Heavy rains are beginning to disrupt coal movement in parts of the country, adding pressure on thermal power plants that are already operating with relatively thin fuel stocks.
The latest coal position reported through the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) system shows that several major power-producing states have only a few days of coal cover, while a substantial number of generating stations remain in the critical category.
The situation makes uninterrupted movement from coal mines to power stations increasingly important as the monsoon continues to affect mining and transportation operations.
UP among the most exposed
Uttar Pradesh has emerged as one of the more vulnerable states in the latest state-wise CEA compilation, with 2.166 million tonnes of coal stock and only 5.2 days of cover across 23 monitored plants. As many as 14 plants are classified as critical.
Madhya Pradesh has 1.615 MT of stock with 5.7 days of cover and four critical plants, while Bihar has 1.058 MT with 6.8 days of cover and three critical plants.
Maharashtra, another major power-producing state, has 1.753 MT of coal stock and only 5.1 days of cover, with 12 plants in the critical category.
By comparison, Odisha has 13 days of cover, while Punjab has 12.5 days.
| State | Coal Stock | Days’ Cover | Plants | Critical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chhattisgarh | 3.188 MT | 9.5 | 20 | 5 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 2.166 MT | 5.2 | 23 | 14 |
| Odisha | 1.953 MT | 13.0 | 8 | 1 |
| West Bengal | 1.834 MT | 9.7 | 14 | 2 |
| Bihar | 1.058 MT | 6.8 | 7 | 3 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1.615 MT | 5.7 | 14 | 4 |
| Maharashtra | 1.753 MT | 5.1 | 20 | 12 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 1.321 MT | 6.4 | 9 | 4 |
| Telangana | 0.941 MT | 5.6 | 8 | 1 |
| Punjab | 0.885 MT | 12.5 | 5 | 2 |
Rains add to an already tight situation
The monsoon creates multiple challenges for coal movement — from mining operations and mine evacuation to rail loading and transportation. Even temporary disruptions can have an immediate impact on power stations when inventories are already low.
This is particularly significant because thermal generation continues to depend heavily on a steady flow of domestic coal. A plant operating with five to seven days of stock has considerably less room to absorb prolonged disruptions than one carrying several weeks of inventory.
The latest CEA position therefore puts the focus not merely on coal production, but on the speed and reliability with which coal reaches power stations.
BCCL, CCL step up direct supplies
Against this backdrop, Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) are supplying coal directly to nearby power plants.
The direct movement assumes importance because proximity between the mines and generating stations can reduce transportation distances and help maintain supplies when longer-distance coal movement is affected by adverse weather.
Coal India data also shows that both subsidiaries have maintained strong offtake during September.
BCCL’s coal offtake during September up to September 17 stood at 1.75 MT, against a target of 1.53 MT, while CCL recorded 3.69 MT against a target of 3.65 MT.
The numbers underline the importance of keeping the coal evacuation chain moving even as rains complicate operations in the coal belt.
The pressure is at the power plants
The latest numbers point to a delicate balance for the thermal power sector.
Coal production at the mine end is only one part of the equation. Coal has to move from the pithead to the power station in time to match daily consumption.
With several states carrying less than a week’s cover at a number of plants, any prolonged disruption caused by rain, rail congestion or mine evacuation could put additional pressure on generating stations.
For BCCL and CCL, supplying nearby power plants directly provides an important operational advantage at precisely such a time.
With the monsoon still affecting the coal-producing regions, the coming weeks will test how efficiently India’s coal logistics chain can keep thermal power plants fuelled.
