New Delhi: The Centre informed Parliament on Monday that as on July 12, 2026, the coal stocks available for use at the country’s thermal power plants stood at 42.8 million tonnes (MT), which is sufficient for 14 days at an 85 per cent Plant Load Factor (PLF). Also, sufficient coal is currently being supplied to the thermal power plants to meet daily demand.
The Minister of State for Power, Shripad Naik, said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha that the scheduled maintenance of thermal units is planned, taking into account the demand scenario for different months. It is a standard practice to minimise scheduled maintenance during the peak months.
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) further monitors and permits deferrals on a case-by-case basis, based on the plant’s technical parameters, if increased demand makes it necessary.
The coal (including lignite) based generation capacity in the country is about 230.8 GW and its share in the total electricity supplied from April to June 2026 is 69.54 per cent. Further, the maximum generation from such power plants is about 188.8 GW (around 75 per cent of the total generation of 251.4 GW) during non-solar peak-demand hours.
To integrate renewable energy sources in the electricity grid, “Central Electricity Authority (Flexible Operation of Coal-based Thermal Power Generating Units) Regulations, 2023” have been notified on January 30, 2023, which mandate all coal-based thermal power generating units to achieve a minimum technical level of 40 per cent as per the phasing plan specified by the CEA from time to time.
The Government of India has taken various initiatives to ensure uninterrupted thermal power generation during peak-demand periods. During FY 2025-26, 9,470 MW thermal capacity has been added, and further 2,260 MW has been commissioned during the current financial year. Coal supply to thermal power plants is currently monitored daily by a joint committee comprising the Ministry of Power, Railways, and the Ministry of Coal.
Priority has been accorded to the movement of coal rakes and coal dispatch to power houses. An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), comprising the Chairman, Railway Board; the Secretary, Ministry of Coal; and the Secretary, Ministry of Power, meets regularly to closely review coal supplies to thermal power plants.
About 2,669 MW of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and 7,426 MW of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) have also been commissioned to date to supplement power generation by thermal plants during non-solar hours. These energy storage systems store the excess power generated during solar hours and utilise the stored electricity primarily during non-solar hours, the minister added.
(IANS)
