India has adequate coal stocks at thermal power plants to meet electricity demand, with 42.8 million tonnes (MT) available as of July 12, 2026, sufficient for 14 days at 85% plant load factor (PLF), the Ministry of Power said on Monday, according to a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Coal Supply and Monitoring Mechanisms
The Ministry stated that "sufficient coal is being received at present by the Thermal Power Plants to meet the daily demands." Coal supply to thermal power plants is monitored daily through a joint committee comprising the Ministry of Power, the Railways, and the Ministry of Coal. Priority has been accorded to coal rakes and dispatches to power houses. Additionally, an Inter-Ministerial Committee comprising the Chairman of the Railway Board and the Secretaries of the Ministries of Coal and Power meets regularly to review coal supplies, the press release noted.
Generation Capacity and Peak Demand Performance
As of the reporting period, India's coal-based generation capacity — including lignite-based capacity — stood at approximately 230.8 GW. This fleet accounted for 69.54% of total electricity supplied between April and June 2026. During non-solar peak demand hours, maximum generation from these plants reached about 188.8 GW, representing nearly 75% of the total generation of 251.4 GW at that time.
Regulatory Measures for Grid Flexibility
The Central Electricity Authority (Flexible Operation of Coal-based Thermal Power Generating Units) Regulations, 2023 mandate coal-based thermal power units to achieve a minimum technical level of 40% in accordance with the phasing plan specified by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). Scheduled maintenance of thermal units is planned in advance, taking into account demand scenarios for different months. The Ministry emphasized that it is standard practice to minimize scheduled maintenance during peak months, and the CEA monitors maintenance schedules, permitting deferment on a case-to-case basis when increased demand requires such action.
Expansion of Thermal and Energy Storage Capacity
During FY2025-26, 9,470 MW of thermal capacity was added, while another 2,260 MW has been commissioned in the current financial year (FY2026-27). Energy storage is also being expanded to support the grid during non-solar hours. To date, approximately 2,669 MW of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and 7,426 MW of Pumped Storage Projects (PSP) have been commissioned. These systems store surplus power generated during solar hours and utilise it primarily when solar generation is unavailable.
| Metric | Value | Period / As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal stocks at thermal plants | 42.8 MT | July 12, 2026 | Ministry of Power |
| Stock sufficiency at 85% PLF | 14 days | July 12, 2026 | Ministry of Power |
| Coal-based generation capacity | ~230.8 GW | Current | Ministry of Power |
| Share of electricity supplied (coal) | 69.54% | April–June 2026 | Ministry of Power |
| Peak non-solar generation from coal | 188.8 GW | April–June 2026 (max) | Ministry of Power |
| Total peak generation | 251.4 GW | April–June 2026 (max) | Ministry of Power |
| Thermal capacity added (FY2025-26) | 9,470 MW | FY2025-26 | Ministry of Power |
| Thermal capacity added (current FY) | 2,260 MW | FY2026-27 (to date) | Ministry of Power |
| BESS commissioned | 2,669 MW | To date | Ministry of Power |
| PSP commissioned | 7,426 MW | To date | Ministry of Power |
The information was provided by Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, published on July 20, 2026.
Sources:
