India Ramps Up Rail Coal Deliveries as Power Plant Stockpiles Dwindle
India's Ministry of Coal is increasing rail shipments to power plants as stockpiles at over 50 facilities have dropped to critically low levels. The supply shortage is attributed to high electricity demand caused by El Niño-related heat and monsoon-related logistics disruptions.
Why it matters
Energy security in India is currently under pressure, highlighting the country's continued reliance on coal and the vulnerability of its infrastructure to climate-driven events.
Indian coal companies are ramping up supply to the coal-fired power plants as coal stocks at dozens of the plants dropped to critically low levels, India's Ministry of Coal said on Monday. More than 50 coal-fired power plants in India, where coal is still the single largest electricity generator, saw their coal stocks fall below the critically low level of 25% as electricity demand rises amid the strong El Ni o, but supply has been disrupted by monsoon rains. The number of power plants with critically low coal stocks rose to 53 as of September 5, from 45 on August 26, the latest data by the Central Electricity Authority CEA showed. Coal shipments via rail to power plants have increased in recent days, the Coal Ministry said today.
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