Coal news and updates

91 million tonnes coal stock can meet power needs for 45 days

Coal India Ltd has 61 million tonnes of stock available in addition to 30 million tonnes with power plants and washeries, which is enough to run power plants for 45 days, officials told ET, saying the situation was critical but not alarming. Many power projects are operating with critical inventories, and a few have even shut down, raising alarm as the country faces a hotter-than-usual summer and record demand.

Union power and renewable energy minister RK Singh said Thursday, "We are capable of handling any rise in power demand," adding that a rise in demand is an indicator of a healthy economy.

Power stations have 25 million tonnes while sheds and washeries have another 5 million, taking the total availability as of now to 91 million tonnes. This is enough to run power stations for over 45 days even if consumption by the thermal units is pegged at the highest level of 1.9 million tonnes per day last October, officials said. Getting this coal to utilities will be crucial to ensuring power availability, said a senior government official.