Coal Ministry rejects coal shortage as cause of Punjab power crisis
Synopsis
The Coal Ministry has directly contradicted the narrative that Punjab's power woes stem from coal shortages — pointing to coal stocks at 114% of normative levels and rake supply exceeding consumption at both Nabha Power and Talwandi Sabo. The real problem, according to New Delhi, is operational: Punjab's own plants are underutilised, breakdowns at IPPs go unmonitored, and allocated coal is simply not being lifted.
Key Takeaways
The Ministry of Coal on 13 September 2026 rejected claims that inadequate coal supply caused Punjab's power crisis.
Coal stocks at PSPCL plants stood at 114 per cent of the normative requirement as of 11 September 2026 .
Nabha Power Limited received ~ 5 rakes/day against consumption of ~ 4.3 rakes/day ; Talwandi Sabo Power received ~ 5 rakes/day against ~ 3.8 rakes/day .
Mine despatch from Pachhwara Central Coal Mine reached only 68.44% of target vs production at 83.67% — indicating underlifting by consumers.
The ministry cited low utilisation of PSPCL's own plants, IPP breakdowns, and inadequate coal lifting as the real causes.
The Ministry of Coal on Sunday, 13 September 2026, pushed back firmly against reports blaming inadequate coal supply for the ongoing power crisis in Punjab, stating that coal availability at the state's thermal plants is well above normative requirements. The ministry attributed reduced power generation in the state to low plant utilisation, frequent breakdowns at independent power plants (IPPs), and the failure to lift coal already allocated by Coal India Limited (CIL).
What the Ministry Said
The clarification came in direct response to media reports that had linked reduced output at Punjab's thermal stations to plant outages and a shortfall in coal supply. According to the ministry, as of 11 September 2026, coal stock at plants operated by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) stood at approximately 114 per cent of the normative requirement — a figure the ministry cited as clear evidence of adequate coal availability.
The ministry also noted that the government had already enabled coal movement from PSPCL's captive Pachhwara Central Coal Mine in Jharkhand to IPPs, subject to fulfilment of statutory payment obligations to the Jharkhand government. Under this arrangement, IPPs not owned by PSPCL — including Nabha Power Limited (Rajpura) and Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (Mansa) — are permitted to use up to 50 per cent of the mine's annual production after meeting the requirements of designated end-use plants.
Rake Supply Versus Consumption: The Numbers
Supply data cited by the ministry showed that CIL deliveries to Punjab's key IPPs have consistently exceeded their actual consumption. Against Nabha Power's average consumption of approximately 4.3 rakes per day over the last three days, supply averaged around 5 rakes per day. For Talwandi Sabo Power, consumption averaged roughly 3.8 rakes per day against a supply of approximately 5 rakes per day.
Over the course of September 2026 so far, average supply has been around 4.9 rakes per day for Nabha Power and 4.1 rakes per day for Talwandi Sabo Power — both higher than their respective average consumption levels, according to the ministry.
Mine Output and Despatch Gap
The ministry also disclosed a notable gap between production and despatch at the Pachhwara Central Coal Mine. Between April 2026 and 11 September 2026, production at the mine stood at 83.67 per cent of the annual target, while despatch reached only 68.44 per cent of the target. This gap, officials indicated, reflects inadequate lifting by the consuming entities rather than a supply constraint on CIL's part.
What the Ministry Says Must Change
The ministry outlined three corrective steps it believes would resolve Punjab's power supply situation: higher utilisation of PSPCL's own generating plants, closer monitoring of breakdowns at IPPs, and timely lifting of coal offered by CIL subsidiaries. It reiterated that CIL remains committed to ensuring uninterrupted coal supply for power generation in Punjab.
This comes amid broader concerns about summer power demand management across northern India, where grid stress has periodically triggered load-shedding complaints. With coal stocks above normative levels and rake supplies outpacing consumption, the ministry's position effectively shifts accountability for Punjab's power crisis to state-level operational and logistical decisions.
Point of View
Rake supply exceeding consumption at both major IPPs — is harder to dismiss than a political denial. But numbers alone do not resolve the accountability gap: if allocated coal is not being lifted and PSPCL's plants are underutilised, the question is why, and whether state-level funding constraints, payment defaults to Jharkhand, or infrastructure bottlenecks are the real culprits. The despatch-versus-production gap at Pachhwara (68% vs 84%) deserves scrutiny that neither the Centre nor Punjab has fully provided. Framing this purely as an operational failure by Punjab lets the Centre off the hook for structural issues in the coal supply chain that have recurred across multiple states and multiple years.
NationPress
13 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused Punjab's power crisis according to the Coal Ministry?
The Coal Ministry attributed Punjab's reduced power generation to low utilisation of PSPCL's own plants, frequent breakdowns at independent power plants (IPPs), and inadequate lifting of coal already offered by Coal India Limited — not a shortage of coal supply.
What is the current coal stock level at PSPCL plants?
As of 11 September 2026, coal stock at PSPCL's plants stood at approximately 114 per cent of the normative requirement, which the ministry cited as evidence of adequate availability.
How much coal is being supplied to Nabha Power and Talwandi Sabo Power?
During September 2026, average supply to Nabha Power has been around 4.9 rakes per day and to Talwandi Sabo Power around 4.1 rakes per day — both exceeding their respective average daily consumption levels.
What is the Pachhwara Central Coal Mine and its role in Punjab's power supply?
The Pachhwara Central Coal Mine is a captive mine operated under PSPCL in Jharkhand. The government has enabled its coal to be used by IPPs including Nabha Power and Talwandi Sabo Power, up to 50 per cent of annual production. Between April and 11 September 2026, despatch from the mine reached only 68.44 per cent of the annual target despite production at 83.67 per cent.
What steps has the government recommended to resolve the Punjab power situation?
The ministry recommended three steps: higher utilisation of PSPCL's own generating plants, closer monitoring of breakdowns at IPPs, and timely lifting of coal offered by CIL subsidiaries. CIL has stated it remains committed to uninterrupted coal supply to the state.
