{
  "id": 8927573,
  "title": "Nearly 40% of India's coal power plants running critically low on fuel, data show",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/nearly-40-of-indias-coal-power-plants-running-critically-low-on-fuel",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-21T13:07:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40440521/nearly-40-of-indias-coal-power-plants-running-critically-low-on-fuel-data-show"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nearly 40% of India's coal power plants are operating with critically low fuel stocks, according to government data released on Monday. This surge in power demand, driven by unusually hot weather linked to El Niño, has led to a sharp increase in the number of plants with less than 25% coal reserves, or those capable of generating power for less than three days. As of September 19, 74 power plants were operating with critically low coal stocks, up from about 60 plants the previous week. The peak power demand, which measures the maximum electricity requirement, has been fluctuating between 230 gigawatts and 250 gigawatts in recent days. This peak demand reached an all-time high of 270.70 gigawatts in May. Experts believe this situation is likely a temporary logistical issue rather than a sign of any structural supply constraints. In response to erratic monsoon rains impacting shipments, the Indian coal and railway ministries have been working to increase supplies to these plants. Additionally, the cost of coal imports has risen, further contributing to the fuel shortage. Despite the surge in renewable power generation, which increased by about 21% between April and August, coal-fired power remains essential in meeting the country's round-the-clock energy demand due to its reliability.",
  "summary": "NEW DELHI: Nearly 40% of India’s coal-fired power plants are operating with critically low fuel stocks due to a surge in power demand amid hotter-than-usual weather linked to El Niño, government data showed on Monday. The number of power plants with critically low coal stocks of less than 25% of the required inventory or only able to generate power for less than three days rose sharply to 74 as…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "Nearly 40% Of India’s Coal Power Plants Face Low Fuel Stocks Amid Rising Electricity Demand",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/nearly-40-of-indias-coal-power-plants-face-low-fuel-stocks-amid",
        "published": "2026-09-21T11:00:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}