The Indian government has said coal availability at thermal power plants remains comfortable, with 42.8 million tonnes (MT) of coal stock available as on July 12, 2026, enough to meet power generation requirements for 14 days at an 85% Plant Load Factor (PLF).
The government also said thermal power plants are receiving adequate daily coal supplies to meet electricity demand, while a series of measures are in place to ensure uninterrupted power generation during peak demand periods.
Thermal power remains backbone of electricity supply
Coal and lignite-based power plants continue to dominate India’s power mix, with an installed generation capacity of 230.8 GW.
Between April and June 2026, thermal power accounted for 69.54% of the country’s total electricity supplied. During non-solar peak demand hours, coal-fired plants generated 188.8 GW, representing around 75% of the total peak power generation of 251.4 GW.
Maintenance planned around demand
The government said scheduled maintenance of thermal power units is planned well in advance after assessing seasonal electricity demand.
To ensure adequate power availability during peak demand months, maintenance activities are minimised and can be deferred by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on a case-by-case basis depending on technical parameters and grid requirements.
Capacity addition continues
The Centre has accelerated capacity addition to strengthen the country’s power generation infrastructure. During FY26, India added 9,470 MW of thermal power generation capacity, while another 2,260 MW has been commissioned so far in the current financial year.
Coal supply to thermal power stations is being monitored daily through a joint committee comprising officials from the Ministries of Power, Coal and Railways. The government has also prioritised coal rakes and dispatches to power plants to avoid fuel shortages.
An Inter-Ministerial Committee comprising the Chairman of the Railway Board, Secretary of the Ministry of Coal and Secretary of the Ministry of Power regularly reviews coal availability and logistics.
Renewables integration
To improve grid flexibility amid rising renewable energy capacity, the government has implemented the Central Electricity Authority (Flexible Operation of Coal-based Thermal Power Generating Units) Regulations, 2023, which require coal-fired plants to progressively operate at a minimum technical load of 40%.
The government is also strengthening energy storage infrastructure to support the grid during non-solar hours.
So far, 2,669 MW of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and 7,426 MW of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) have been commissioned. These systems store surplus electricity generated during solar hours and supply it during evening and night-time peak demand.
The details were shared by Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.