Coal stocks adequate to meet 51 days of power demand: Coal Minister whilst addressing monsoon slump in production
India's Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy announced that the country holds sufficient coal stocks to meet 51 days of power demand. Despite temporary production dips due to monsoon rains, officials are confident in supply stability as production levels recover.
Why it matters
Ensuring energy security is critical for India's growing economy, especially as power demand rises due to climate-related factors like El Niño.
India has adequate coal stocks to meet about fifty-one days of domestic power demand, G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister for Coal and Mines told reporters addressing queries about the present stock situation as monsoon rains in coal-bearing regions temporarily impacted production.
Mr. Reddy informed the country has 123.7 million tonnes (MT) of coal – inclusive of thermal power plants holding 23.7 MT.
Thus, with the present rate of consumption of the power sector hovering at about 2.4 MT per day, the stock can suffice for about fifty-one-days, he explained in response to a query from The Hindu about the Central Electricity Authority’s recent observation that 53 thermal power plants in the country were holding 25% or less of their overall coal requirements.
Mr. Reddy stated that coal production was bothered for about ten days because of monsoons in coal-bearing regions.
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