Representational file image.
| Photo Credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT
India has an overall coal stock of 210 million tonnes (MT) which would be adequate for about 88 days, the Union Ministry informed Wednesday (March 11, 2026) as India preps to spur coal production to ensure adequate availability for addressing peak power demand as summers approach, with an additional caveat emerging as natural gas supplies dry up because of the escalating conflict in West Asia.
According to data from the Coal Ministry, pithead coal stock, or coal that has been mined and stored at the pithead for transporting to relevant sectors, with Coal India was 121.39 MT as on March 9, with another 6.07 MT with its subsidiary Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). Further, another 15.12 MT was housed with captive/commercial mines and approximately 14 MT in transit. Thus, bringing the total to 156.85 MT.
Further, another 54.05 MT approximately was already available at power plants, which, according to government estimates, is adequate for approximately 24 days at the present rate of consumption.
On the aspect of rising demand, the Ministry observed, “This year the coal production and supply continue to be higher than consumption, resulting in record high coal stocks at thermal power plants and coal mines. Further, the supply to the Non-Regulated Sector has been higher than the previous year by almost 14%.”
“The coal production in the country continues at the same pace, building stocks at the mine end, for maintaining adequate supply to the consumers as per their requirements, with the support of Railways,” the Ministry statement read.
Published – March 11, 2026 10:52 pm IST
