Coal India accounts for over 80% of domestic coal output. File (representational image)
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Assuring about adequate stocks in hand to meet escalating power demand amidst peak summers, state-owned miner Coal India informed as on Saturday (May 23, 2026), domestic thermal plants have 47.6 million tonnes (MT) of coal in stock which will suffice for 19 days of consumption.
The overall stock buffer, that is, inclusive of stocks with power plants at present, that extracted and available for dispatch, stocks in-transit as well as that ready for transit and in-transit stands at about 168 million tonnes, at present.
In addition to this, the miner said it has 113.5 million tonnes extracted coal ready at its mines available for dispatch, as on Monday (May 24, 2026). This is 10% higher than comparable period last year, the company informed.
Further, the Kolkata-headquartered miner informed that about 3 million tonnes of coal are awaiting transit, with 4 million tonnes already in transit.
Thus, totalling to about 168 million tonnes of coal already available across the supply chain.
Essential to note, the figures reflect the current stock situation with production ongoing augmenting further the stock position.
“Coal India has been corresponding with power plants to build up their stocks for peak demand periods in advance, when there is ample coal, especially in case of the plants located at difficult logistic points,” it stated, adding, “As such, Coal India had adequate quantity to meet the generation capacity of domestic coal-based plants.”
Alongside the current stock position, Coal India also informed it has about 50 million tonnes unextracted coal available for ready access, that is, in-site mine coal on tap, ready for quicker extraction and supply if the demand escalates.
Published – May 26, 2026 04:19 pm IST


