Mint Explainer: How a weak monsoon is fuelling India’s power surge and coal deficits

What is the coal stock situation at thermal power plants?

Coal inventories at thermal power plants have fallen in recent months. While stock depletion is typical during the monsoon, as rains disrupt mining while power demand climbs, the drawdown this year is far more acute due to the sudden demand surge. As of 6 September, total coal stock across the country’s 190 thermal plants stood at 26.7 million tonnes—enough for an average of 8.5 days of operations. Of these, 58 plants are running on critical coal levels, holding less than 25% of their required inventory.