India has increased coal supply to its power plants to the highest historical level in order to tackle the energy crisis. According to a senior official from the Ministry of Energy in New Delhi, coal-fired power plants are currently receiving ٢.٦ million tons of coal daily, which is unprecedented.
Coal reserves situation in India
This news comes as reports indicate that ٩٦ coal-fired power plants in India have coal reserves for only the next three days. This level of storage is considered critical, and the number of power plants in such conditions has increased from ٦٠ plants in mid-September. The reduction in coal reserves occurs as electricity demand has risen due to decreased production from other sources, especially hydropower plants, due to low rainfall.
Read more: Weekly dry loading time estimate, October ٢١, ٢٠٢٦
Consequences of climate change and electricity demand
Earlier this year, a climate center warned that the El Niño phenomenon could significantly increase coal demand in India. El Niño typically affects wind and rainfall patterns, impacting wind and hydropower generation. Although wind energy does not have a large share in India's energy mix, hydropower plays a significant role in electricity supply. Additionally, increased industrial production also exacerbates the electricity supply crunch. Reports indicate that the state of Gujarat has asked factories to reduce their electricity consumption during nighttime hours to prevent potential blackouts.
In response to the reduction in coal reserves last month, the Ministry of Coal in India announced that domestic coal companies are increasing supply to coal-fired power plants. However, these efforts seem insufficient to balance demand and supply. Daily electricity demand in the country has significantly increased this year, reaching ٤٥ to ٥٠ gigawatts higher than last year.
