THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, MARCH 19, 2026

Coal continues to play a crucial role in ensuring India’s energy security, even as the country accelerates its renewable energy expansion, by providing reliable baseload power to core industries such as steel and cement that drive economic growth.

Coal remains central to sustaining the country’s growth trajectory, with production keeping pace with rising demand while maintaining adequate stock levels at mine sites to ensure uninterrupted supply to consumers. Backed by coordinated efforts, particularly with the Railways, the sector has strengthened its supply chain resilience to meet the evolving energy needs of the nation.

The pithead coal stock at the mines of Coal India Limited has risen significantly from 106.78 MT as on April 1, 2025, to about 125.54 MT as on March 18, 2026. In addition, around 5.75 MT of coal is available at Singareni Collieries Company Limited mines, while captive and commercial mines hold another 15.75 MT. Further, approximately 12 MT of coal is currently in transit and about 5.49 MT is stocked at ports and goods-shed sidings.

This robust stock position is supplemented by approximately 53.41 MT of coal available at power plants, which is sufficient for nearly 23 days at the current consumption rate, reflecting a comfortable supply scenario across the energy value chain.

To further enhance availability and accessibility, Coal India Limited has initiated proactive measures, including scheduling 29 e-auctions in March 2026, offering around 23.56 MT of coal. Of these, five auctions conducted since March 12 saw 73.1 lakh tonnes of coal being offered, with 31.96 lakh tonnes successfully booked, indicating sufficient supply in the market.

The company has also strengthened coal distribution to small and medium consumers through the State Nominated Agencies route, while actively coordinating with state governments to assess and meet additional requirements. Continuous monitoring of coal offtake ensures that supply disruptions are avoided and demand is met efficiently.

The Ministry of Coal continues to reinforce its commitment to a stable and transparent ecosystem through policy support, real-time monitoring, and active stakeholder engagement. These sustained efforts aim to guarantee reliable coal availability, support uninterrupted industrial operations, and meet the country’s growing energy demands, aligning with the broader vision of achieving a Viksit Bharat by 2047.