Coal stocks at the country’s thermal power plants improved to 74% of the normative level as on February 19, compared to 62% in the same period of last year, data from the Central Electricity Authority showed. The country’s thermal plants had coal stocks of 53.09 million tonnes as on February 19 against the normative level of 71.26 million tonne for this time of the year.
Of the 188 thermal plants with a total generation capacity of 213 GW, 30 reported to have a critical stock level. And, 17 of these were domestic coal-based plants. A plant is said to have a critical stock situation when the dry fuel is less than 25% of the normative level. During the same period of last year, 28 plants had a critical stock level.
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Coal stocks at power plants have improved this year owing to various measures including efficient logistical arrangements by the government to ensure adequate availability of coal amid rising demand for power.
Domestic coal-based thermal plants, including pithead and non-pithead, with a total capacity of 195 GW had 76% of the normative coal stock at 50.9 million tonne. The normative level of stocks required at these plants is 66.5 million tonne for this time of the year.
The 17 imported coal-based non-pithead plants with a total generation capacity of 17.96 GW had coal stocks of 45% of the required level. The total coal stocks as on February 19 in the imported coal-based plants were at 2.2 million tonne against a normative stock requirement of 4.8 million tonne.
In 2024, the peak demand for power had touched 250 GW in May against the government’s projection of 260 GW. The CEA has now estimated the peak demand to touch 270 GW in FY26. It expects the peak power demand to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7% in the next five years against the current CAGR of 6%.
State-owned Coal India has set a production target for FY26 at 915 million tonne in line with the projected rise in demand.
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The country’s coal production during April-January of FY25 increased to 830.66 million tonne, up 5.9% from 784.51 million tonne in the same period of last year,
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