Coal India Ltd (CIL) has moved to allay concerns over domestic coal shortages as power demand gathers momentum from January 2026, signalling higher consumption in the coming summer months.
The company has built a three-layer buffer across the supply chain, pithead stocks, coal inventory at thermal power plants and ready-to-extract in-situ coal at its mines, ensuring comfortable availability.
CIL’s producing subsidiaries held 115 million tonnes (MT) of coal at pitheads as of February 26, 2026. The stockpile is expected to rise further by the close of the fiscal year.
Coal inventory at domestic coal-based thermal power plants stood at nearly 55 MT as of February 25, the highest ever for this period. In addition, around 5.5 MT of coal is currently in transit across goods sheds, washeries and ports.
Together, these stocks translate into total on-tap coal availability of about 175.5 MT in the system, a level seen as adequate to meet any spike in power demand as well as requirements from other sectors.
Significantly, CIL has also strengthened operational readiness at the production level.
In-situ coal exposure, coal already uncovered through overburden removal and ready for extraction, stood at 60.2 MT at mines accounting for 90% of CIL’s annual output at the end of the first fortnight of February 2026. This ensures faster evacuation and supply at short notice.
Coal India Ltd Senior Official said the cumulative pithead stock, plant inventory at domestic coal-based thermal power stations and exposed in-situ coal provide strong operational assurance to meet rising demand.
The higher availability of domestic coal is also expected to support efforts to curb imports. International coal prices have shown an upward trend in February 2026, making domestic supply more critical for cost stability.
With summer approaching and electricity consumption projected to rise, CIL’s buffer strategy is aimed at preventing supply-side stress and dispelling concerns over coal scarcity.