Half of India’s Coal Plants Run Critically Low on Fuel as Power Demand Surges

Half of India's coal plants run critically low on fuel as power demand surges

Is India running out of power? Over half of coal plants face critically low fuel stocks as demand surges

India's coal-fired power plants are grappling with alarming fuel shortages, with almost half of them maintaining reserves for less than three days. This comes amid soaring electricity demand driven by rising temperatures and dwindling hydropower supplies. In response, the government has ramped up local coal production while pausing coal imports.

Half of India’s coal plants run critically low on fuel as power demand surges

Hydropower output drops 20% as weak monsoon shifts load to coal-fired plants

Nearly Half of India’s Coal Power Plants Face Fuel Shortages

India’s power sector is facing fresh pressure as 96 of the country’s 191 coal-fired power plants reported critically low fuel stocks as of 19 October 2026. These plants have enough coal to generate electricity for fewer than three days, raising concerns about supply reliability as demand remains unusually high. The...