India Shelves Coal Import Plan as Power Plant Stocks Dwindle
COAL & MINING

India Shelves Coal Import Plan as Power Plant Stocks Dwindle

India has shelved a proposal to mandate coal imports for power plants after rising seaborne prices and a weaker rupee increased the cost of overseas supplies. The government had considered requiring plants to blend imported coal with domestic grades to address shrinking inventories and ease the supply crunch.

The proposal was discussed by policymakers in recent weeks but was abandoned because of the higher import costs, according to people familiar with the matter. Officials have instead asked state-owned Coal India to increase production, while the railway has been urged to ensure more timely deliveries to power stations. The power ministry and Coal India had not immediately responded to requests for comment.

Coal reserves at India’s power plants have fallen to their lowest level in nearly five years. A weak monsoon kept temperatures elevated beyond the summer period, increasing electricity demand for cooling and irrigation, while below-normal rainfall reduced hydropower generation. The combination raised dependence on coal-fired stations and depleted their inventories.

Nearly half of the country’s power plants had critical fuel stocks on October 17, with inventories below a quarter of the level considered necessary, power ministry data showed. The electricity deficit also increased in September, producing the worst shortages for that month in nearly a decade. Thermal coal prices have reached their highest level in three years, making imports less attractive while higher oil prices are already increasing India’s energy costs.

The government expects cooler weather to moderate power consumption as domestic coal supplies recover. Average daily inventory reductions at coal-fired facilities were about 48,000 t during the first 17 days of October, according to calculations based on ministry data. That was around one-fifth of the depletion rate recorded in September, indicating that the pace of stock drawdown had slowed despite continued high demand.

India has shelved a proposal to mandate coal imports for power plants after rising seaborne prices and a weaker rupee increased the cost of overseas supplies. The government had considered requiring plants to blend imported coal with domestic grades to address shrinking inventories and ease the supply crunch. The proposal was discussed by policymakers in recent weeks but was abandoned because of the higher import costs, according to people familiar with the matter. Officials have instead asked state-owned Coal India to increase production, while the railway has been urged to ensure more timely deliveries to power stations. The power ministry and Coal India had not immediately responded to requests for comment. Coal reserves at India’s power plants have fallen to their lowest level in nearly five years. A weak monsoon kept temperatures elevated beyond the summer period, increasing electricity demand for cooling and irrigation, while below-normal rainfall reduced hydropower generation. The combination raised dependence on coal-fired stations and depleted their inventories. Nearly half of the country’s power plants had critical fuel stocks on October 17, with inventories below a quarter of the level considered necessary, power ministry data showed. The electricity deficit also increased in September, producing the worst shortages for that month in nearly a decade. Thermal coal prices have reached their highest level in three years, making imports less attractive while higher oil prices are already increasing India’s energy costs. The government expects cooler weather to moderate power consumption as domestic coal supplies recover. Average daily inventory reductions at coal-fired facilities were about 48,000 t during the first 17 days of October, according to calculations based on ministry data. That was around one-fifth of the depletion rate recorded in September, indicating that the pace of stock drawdown had slowed despite continued high demand.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Building Material

Nuvoco reports 13.5% revenue growth in Q2 FY27

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.9 billion for Q2 FY27, up 13.5% year on year. Cement sales volume rose 9% to 4.7 million tonnes (MMT), while EBITDA increased 11% to Rs 4.11 billion.The company said it began its cement operations in 2014 with a 2.3 MMT per annum (MMTPA) operation at Nimbol. It now aims to reach 35 MMTPA of cement capacity by FY28, nearly 15 times its initial capacity. Its portfolio spans cement, ready-mix concrete and modern building materials.On sustainability and cost efficiency, Nuvoco partnered with CleanMax for a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid re..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Thermax showcases water technologies at WETEX 2026

Thermax Limited showcased its seawater desalination and industrial water recovery technologies at the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition 2026 (WETEX), held at Dubai World Trade Centre from October 20 to 22. Its digital showcase featured solutions intended to help industries secure reliable water supplies, improve resource efficiency and reduce environmental impact.Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA) financial annual report stated that desalinated water production rose 5.51% year on year in the first quarter of 2026 to 37.57 billion imperial gallons. By June 2026,..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Bondada receives LOI for 120 MWh battery storage project

Bondada Engineering Limited, a Hyderabad-based engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company, has received a Letter of Intent (LOI) from Gujarat Industries Power Company Limited (GIPCL) for a 20 MW/120 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Energy Storage System (VRFB BESS). The project will be developed at GIPCL’s 165 MW natural gas power plant complex in Vadodara, Gujarat, and includes a 10-year operations and maintenance (O&M) contract.Bondada Engineering said the project is India’s largest grid-scale VRFB energy storage system. It marks the company’s expansion into advanced en..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code