New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) The thermal power plants across India currently possess sufficient coal reserves, totaling approximately 53.41 million tonnes, which is enough to sustain operations for nearly 23 days based on current consumption rates. Furthermore, additional coal stocks are being accumulated at the pitheads of mining companies to proactively address any potential disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in Iran affecting oil and gas supplies, as highlighted by the Ministry of Coal on Thursday.

As of April 1, 2025, the coal inventories at the mines operated by Coal India Limited (CIL) increased significantly from 106.78 million tonnes to approximately 125.54 million tonnes by March 18, 2026. Additionally, there are around 5.75 million tonnes of coal at Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and another 15.75 million tonnes at various captive and commercial mines, with roughly 12 million tonnes in transit and about 5.49 million tonnes stored at ports and good-shed sidings, according to the ministry's statement.

Coal continues to play a crucial role in providing reliable baseload power, essential for core industries such as steel and cement, which are vital to the nation's economic growth. The coal production maintains a pace that aligns with consumer demands, ensuring adequate stocks at mining sites to fulfill consumer requirements, supported by the Railways, the statement noted.

CIL is implementing necessary measures to guarantee coal availability for all consumers, including small and medium enterprises. In a proactive approach, CIL has scheduled 29 e-auctions for March, offering around 23.56 million tonnes of coal. Out of these, five auctions have already taken place since March 12, providing 73.1 lakh tonnes of coal, of which 31.96 lakh tonnes have been successfully booked, reflecting the adequate availability of coal during the e-auctions, the ministry stated.

Moreover, CIL has taken essential steps to ensure coal is accessible to small, medium, and other consumers through the State Nominated Agencies (SNAs) and has requested state governments to fulfill any additional coal needs, which can be met fully to prevent energy shortages. The offtake of coal by states through SNAs is being continuously monitored by CIL to guarantee uninterrupted supply, as per the ministry's statement.

The Ministry of Coal is committed to fostering a performance-oriented ecosystem through ongoing policy facilitation, robust monitoring systems, and proactive engagement with stakeholders. These coordinated efforts aim to ensure reliable coal availability, enabling seamless operations across critical sectors and effectively addressing the nation's escalating energy demands, the statement concluded.