Loading of coal rakes for supply to the power sector has grown about 20% between September 3 and September 6, the Union Coal Ministry said on Monday (September 7, 2026), adding separately that it was also closely monitoring thermal plants with stocks below 25% of their normal requirements with measures being taken to ease their supply position.

According to data from the Central Electricity Authority, 53 domestic coal-fired plants were operating at the critical normative level as on September 5.

“The number of critical thermal plants [stock below 25% of normative requirement] are being closely monitored, with corrective coal supply measures already in place to further ease the position at these plants,” it stated.

On the increased rake loading, the Ministry stated that coal loading to the power sector has increased from 370 rakes in a day on September 3, to 387 rakes the day after, 413 rakes September 5 and 444 rakes on Sunday (September 6, 2026).

The previous week, the Union Coal Ministry had also stated that mines operated by Coal India had increased production to 1.7 million tonnes (MT) on September 4 against an average 1.36 MT a day during the first three rain-affected days of the month.