Coal Supply and Logistics to Meet Electricity Demand

India has sufficient coal availability, with the government focusing on increasing domestic production to meet energy demands. The country achieved its highest-ever coal production in 2023-24, reaching 997.826 million tonnes (MT), an 11.71% increase from 893.191 MT in 2022-23. In 2024-25, coal production stood at 929.15 MT (provisional) as of February, marking a 5.45% rise from 881.16 MT in the same period of 2023-24. For the financial year 2025-26, the Ministry of Power has projected a domestic coal requirement of 906.1 MT, which the Ministry of Coal has committed to supplying. According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), coal stocks at domestic coal-based power plants reached 53.49 MT as of March 10, 2025, reflecting a 20.20% increase from 44.51 MT a year earlier. This stock is sufficient for about 20 days at an 85% plant load factor. Coal supply to power plants is continuously monitored by coal companies and an Inter-Ministerial Sub-Group comprising representatives from the Ministries of Power, Coal, and Railways, along with CEA, Coal India Limited (CIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), which regularly reviews and enhances supply operations. Additionally, an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) including the Railway Board Chairman and Secretaries from the Ministries of Coal, Power, and Environment monitors coal supply augmentation and power generation capacity, with the Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the CEA Chairperson attending as special invitees when required. This information was provided by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. (PIB)

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