Stories
Pace of coal stock depletion at thermal power plants eases in October
- •Coal inventories at domestic thermal power plants remained above 18 million tonnes since September 29 according to the government.
- •Stocks declined by a minor 0.56 million tonnes in the first ten days of October, averaging 0.06 million tonnes per day compared to September.
- •Higher rake loading averaging 469 rakes per day in October drove the improvement, representing a 10 percent increase over September.
- •Actual coal supply to the power sector averaged 2.49 million tonnes per day in October, exceeding the supply plan on nine of the first ten days.
- •The coal ministry is coordinating closely with Coal India Limited, Singareni Collieries, and Indian Railways to ensure uninterrupted power generation.
Key Questions Answered
The slower rate of coal depletion was driven by higher rake loading, which averaged 469 rakes per day between October 1 and October 10, 2026, compared to 426 rakes per day in September. This improvement raised actual daily coal supplies to the power sector.
In September 2026, coal stocks declined by an average of about 0.24 million tonnes per day. In contrast, during the first ten days of October 2026, the depletion rate dropped sharply to an average of about 0.06 million tonnes per day.
The Ministry of Coal coordinates closely with Coal India Limited, Singareni Collieries Company Ltd, power utilities, and Indian Railways to ensure sustained coal evacuation and uninterrupted power generation. The ministry specifically acknowledged the professional commitment of Indian Railways in facilitating efficient coal movement.
