Coal India Ltd. (CIL) has ramped up the supply of coal over the last five days to address a coal shortage at utilities across the country, Reuters reported. Coal-fired power accounts for more than 70% of India’s electricity generation and CIL provides for more than 80% of the base load fuel.
According to federal coal ministry data, more than one-half of the country’s 135 coal-fired power plants had less than a week’s stock of coal remaining, 50 had less than a three-day burn and six plants had run out of coal.
During the last five days of August, CIL averaged 1.7 million metric tons per day (mtpd), which is 4.3% higher than the July average of 1.63 million mtpd, according to Reuters. The coal shortage has been exacerbated by steep growth in power demand as states eased COVID-19 restrictions, and a decrease in hydroelectric generation.
