Coal stocks at power plants may fall 20% by Sept-end

Synopsis

Coal stocks at Indian power plants are expected to fall to 24-30 million tonnes by September-end from about 37 million tonnes currently, amid seasonal supply constraints, deficient monsoon and higher temperatures, before rebuilding from mid-November.

Listen to this article in summarized format

Representative image.

New Delhi: Coal stocks at power plants are expected to fall to 24-30 million tonnes (mt) by the end of September from about 37 mt currently, amid lower seasonal dispatch, higher demand during a deficient monsoon and above-normal temperatures, people familiar with the matter said.

Coal supplies to thermal power plants have picked up in recent months, even as stocks at generating units have declined from the high levels seen at the start of the financial year because of cooling demand.

Stocks at power plants stood at 59.3 mt on April 1, compared with 37.2 mt on August 7.

The average number of rakes loaded per day has risen to 436 so far in August from 376 in the corresponding period a year earlier, an official said.

"Last year in Q2 average loading was 370 rakes per day, this time it is around 434," another official said.

The increase in loading has become more pronounced since June.

Average daily loading was 426 rakes in April, 442 in May, 444 in June and 434 in July, compared with 441, 443, 414 and 362 rakes, respectively, in the corresponding months of 2025.

The lower rake movement in the initial months was due to higher coal stocks at power plants.

"Further, if rainfall eases in coal bearing areas, supplies will go up and stock will increase," the official said.

Coal stocks across the supply chain currently stand at about 147 mt.

Coal India has 86 mt, while Singareni Collieries Company has 1.58 million tonnes. Another 16 million tonnes is in transit and at ports, 9.5 million tonnes is at captive mines and about 34 million tonnes is held at domestic coal-based power plants.

The second quarter of the financial year usually sees a decline in coal stocks because of a slowdown in dispatch and production.

Stocks start to pick up thereafter, with the second half of the financial year usually seeing a build-up.

"Stock will start growing rapidly post mid November," the official said.