India Hits Record Coal Deliveries Amid Power Plant Shortages

India is supplying a record 2.6 million tonnes of coal daily to power plants to stabilize energy supplies amid rising electricity demand and weather-related disruptions. Despite these record deliveries, the Central Electricity Authority of India reports that 96 power plants had critically low coal stocks—enough for less than three days of generation—as of October 19, an increase from 60 plants in mid-September.

Supply pressure is driven by a 45 to 50 gigawatt increase in daily peak electricity demand compared to last year, fueled by higher industrial production and hotter weather. The El Niño weather pattern has further strained the system by reducing hydropower generation and disrupting mining deliveries through scattered rains. In response, the federal power ministry allocated additional power to Gujarat, where factories were reportedly asked to curb evening electricity use to avoid blackouts.

To address these bottlenecks, Indian Railways achieved an all-time high in coal loading between October 1 and October 18, 2026, recording a 22.5% growth compared to the same period in 2025. This surge represents an additional 87 coal rakes dispatched per day. Indian Railways coordinated with the Ministry of Coal and the Ministry of Power to streamline coal evacuation from mining hubs to generation units like NTPC Limited.