Coal Stock at Thermal Power Plants Sufficient for 14 Days, Government Assures Uninterrupted Power Supply – Indian PSU
India’s thermal power plants have adequate coal reserves to ensure uninterrupted electricity generation, with 42.8 million tonnes (MT) of coal stock available as of July 12, 2026, sufficient to meet 14 days of demand at 85% Plant Load Factor (PLF), the Government informed Parliament.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik said that thermal power plants are currently receiving sufficient daily coal supplies to meet electricity demand, while coordinated efforts by the Ministries of Power, Coal and Railways continue to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability.
Coal Continues to Dominate India’s Power Mix
Coal (including lignite)-based power plants continue to be the backbone of India’s electricity sector.
According to the Ministry of Power:
- India’s coal and lignite-based installed generation capacity stands at about 230.8 GW.
- These plants contributed 69.54% of total electricity supplied between April and June 2026.
- During non-solar peak demand hours, thermal plants generated a maximum of 188.8 GW, accounting for nearly 75% of the country’s total power generation of 251.4 GW.
The government said thermal generation remains critical for maintaining grid stability, especially during evening peak demand when solar generation declines.
Coal Supply Being Monitored Daily
The government said coal availability is being closely monitored through a joint coordination mechanism involving the Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal, and Indian Railways.
Several measures have been put in place to ensure uninterrupted coal supplies:
- Daily monitoring of coal supply to thermal power plants.
- Priority allocation of railway coal rakes.
- Faster coal dispatch to power stations.
- Regular meetings of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) comprising the Chairman, Railway Board, Secretary, Ministry of Coal and Secretary, Ministry of Power to review coal logistics and availability.
Scheduled Maintenance Planned to Avoid Peak Demand
The Ministry clarified that annual maintenance of thermal generating units is planned well in advance after assessing seasonal demand patterns.
Scheduled maintenance is minimized during high-demand months, while the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) may permit deferment of maintenance on a case-by-case basis depending on plant condition and power demand.
Flexible Operation to Support Renewable Energy Integration
To facilitate higher integration of renewable energy into the national grid, the government highlighted the implementation of the Central Electricity Authority (Flexible Operation of Coal based Thermal Power Generating Units) Regulations, 2023, notified on January 30, 2023.
Under these regulations, coal-fired power plants are required to operate flexibly and achieve a minimum technical load of 40%, following the phased implementation plan prescribed by the CEA.
This flexibility enables thermal plants to quickly adjust generation as renewable energy output fluctuates.
Thermal and Energy Storage Capacity Expanded
The government also highlighted recent capacity additions aimed at strengthening power reliability.
During FY 2025-26, India added 9,470 MW of thermal generation capacity, while another 2,260 MW has already been commissioned during the current financial year.
To complement thermal generation during non-solar hours, the country has also commissioned:
- 2,669 MW of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
- 7,426 MW of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs).
These storage systems absorb surplus electricity generated during daytime solar hours and release it during evening and night-time peak demand, reducing pressure on thermal power stations while improving overall grid stability.
The government reiterated that coordinated planning, adequate coal stocks, expanding generation capacity and growing energy storage infrastructure are helping ensure reliable electricity supply across the country even during periods of high demand.
