India Ramps Up Coal Rail Shipments as Power Plant Stocks Deplete

India is ramping up coal rail shipments to power plants after critical fuel inventories dropped at 58 generators, the coal ministry said on Monday.

The number of plants with coal stocks below 25 per cent of required inventory or with critically low stocks to generate power for less than three days has risen sharply to 58 by September 5 from 46 at the end of August, according to data on the website of the Central Electricity Authority. Of the affected plants, 53 are domestic coal-fired plants.

"The number of critical thermal plants is being closely monitored, with corrective coal supply measures already in place to further ease the position at these plants," the coal ministry said in its statement.

A surge in coal dispatches from State-run Coal India, its subsidiaries, and private mines has helped lift supplies, with loading rising every day since September 3. Coal loading to power plants increased to 444 unit trains or rakes on September 6 from 370 on September 3, according to government data released on Monday.

Heavy rainfall in some of the key coal-rich Indian states, including Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, has hit mining and slowed the transportation of the fuel for power plants.

Coal accounts for about three-quarters of India's electricity generation, making uninterrupted fuel supplies crucial for maintaining grid reliability.

Coal India, the world's largest coal miner, said it continues to hold adequate stock of 76 million tonnes of coal at its pitheads.