Industrial power security remains a key focus as thermal power demand rises across the country.
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday said there was no coal shortage despite higher thermal power demand, monsoon-related disruptions in mining, and lower hydropower generation.
The assurance comes as industries continue to depend on reliable electricity supplies to maintain production schedules and manage energy-intensive operations.
Coal India Ltd (CIL) has increased coal supplies to the power sector by 11.01 per cent during the July-September quarter, strengthening fuel availability for thermal power plants.
For manufacturing industries, the development highlights the importance of sustained coal availability and a stable power supply as electricity demand rises and seasonal disruptions affect other sources of generation.
CIL supplied 148.20 million tons (MT) of dry fuel to power-sector users during the July-September quarter, compared with 133.50 MT during the same period last year. The increase comes ahead of the festive season, when electricity demand typically rises.
The higher supply also helped CIL liquidate around 63 MT of pithead coal stocks during the first six months of the current fiscal. CIL currently holds around 67 MT of coal at its pitheads, which supports its ability to meet power-sector requirements in the coming months.
Key supply figures include:
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Thermal power demand increased by around 12-15 per cent as hydropower generation declined, according to Reddy. Monsoon conditions also affected coal mining operations, creating temporary disruptions in production and movement.
Reddy said the disruptions did not indicate a coal shortage and pointed to supplies through rail rakes and road transport. CIL’s September figures also show continued growth in both production and supplies.
CIL increased its total supplies by 12.50 per cent year-on-year to 61.20 MT in September. Power-sector supplies rose 10.63 per cent to 48.90 MT from 44.20 MT in September last year.
For energy-intensive manufacturing, the coal supply trend carries significance beyond the thermal power sector. Reliable fuel availability supports the power generation needed to run industrial operations, particularly when hydropower generation falls and electricity demand rises.
CIL also recorded a 9.18 per cent increase in coal production in September, reaching 53.50 MT from 49 MT a year earlier. Production during the July-September quarter rose 3.81 per cent to 151.37 MT from 145.82 MT in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year.
With the monsoon season over, CIL expects coal production and supplies to increase further. The company holds a production target of 815 MT and a supply target of 850 MT for the current fiscal.
For India’s manufacturing base, sustained coal availability can therefore remain an important part of industrial power security as electricity demand grows and seasonal changes influence the generation mix.
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