{
  "id": 16017376,
  "title": "Govt Dispatches Record 2.6 Million Tonnes Of Coal Daily Amid Critically Low Stocks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/govt-dispatches-record-2-6-million-tonnes-of-coal-daily-amid",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-22T07:02:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/govt-dispatches-record-26-million-tonnes-of-coal-daily-amid-critically-low-stocks"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Indian government has dispatched a record 2.6 million tonnes of coal daily to thermal power plants, as reported by Reuters. This figure is expected to stabilize soon, according to a senior Power Ministry official. The surge in coal dispatches aims to address declining fuel inventories at power plants across the country. As of October 19, 96 power plants had critically low coal stocks, up from 60 in mid-September.\n\nPlants with less than three days of fuel are classified as having critically low stocks. The increase in coal deliveries highlights mounting pressure on electricity generation due to rising demand. Approximately half of India's coal-fired power plants are currently facing fuel shortages, exacerbated by surging electricity demand. The Power Ministry has stepped up coal deliveries to electricity producers, including the state-owned NTPC, following disruptions caused by scattered rainfall in mining regions.\n\nReduced hydropower generation, linked to the El Niño weather pattern, has further increased reliance on coal-based electricity. The official attributed the weaker hydropower output to rainfall disruptions. India's daily peak electricity demand has risen by about 45 to 50 gigawatts compared to the same period last year. Hotter weather and stronger industrial activity are among the factors contributing to the sharp increase in consumption.\n\nTo tackle supply concerns, the Central Government has allocated additional electricity to Gujarat, a major industrial hub. The ministry assured that Gujarat is not facing a shortage of either electricity or coal. The Gujarat government had requested industrial units to reduce electricity consumption during the evening hours to prevent potential supply disruptions as demand increases.",
  "summary": "Coal supplies to India's thermal power plants are expected to stabilise shortly, with daily dispatches reaching a record 2.6 million tonnes, a senior Power Ministry official said on Thursday as per a Reuters report The assurance comes amid growing concerns over declining fuel inventories at coal-fired power stations across the country. According to Central Electricity Authority (CEA) data, 96…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}