Parliament Question: Current status of coal reserves

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4156 ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026 CURRENT STATUS OF COAL RESERVES 4156 # SMT. DARSHANA SINGH:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) the total coal reserve currently available in the country and whether it is sufficient to meet the country's power generation requirements;

(b) the State-wise details of the coal reserves available at various thermal power plants across the country;

(c) whether Government has taken any special steps to ensure adequate availability and supply of coal in view of the rising demand for electricity during the summer season; and

(d) if so, the details thereof? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

(a) & (b) : As on 22.03.2026, the coal stock available with coal-based plants in the country is around 58.2 Million Tonnes (MTs), which is sufficient to run the plants for an average of 19 days at 85% Plant Load Factor (PLF).

The State-wise details of the coal stock available at all coal based thermal power plants in the country as on 22.03.2026 is given below:

S. No.

Available Coal Stock State (Figures in Thousand Tonnes) 1 Haryana 2,670.4 2 Punjab 2,050.4 3 Rajasthan 2,119.6 4 Uttar Pradesh 8,770.0 5 Chhattisgarh 8,061.7 6 Gujarat 4,122.1 7 Madhya Pradesh 4,120.8 8 Maharashtra 5,282.8 9 Andhra Pradesh 2,439.5 10 Karnataka 1,516.1 11 Tamil Nadu 2,392.012 Telangana 1,862.9 13 Jharkhand 2,178.6 14 Odisha 3,415.8 15 West Bengal 3,760.4 16 Bihar 3,174.4 17 Assam 231.8 Total 58,169.3

(c) & (d): Following steps are taken to ensure adequate availability and supply of coal in view of

the rising demand for electricity during the summer season:

(i) To address the issues of coal supply to power sector, an ‘Inter-Ministerial Sub Group’ meeting, comprising of representatives from Ministries of Power, Coal and Railways, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Coal India Limited (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), is held regularly to take various operational decisions to enhance supply of coal to thermal power plants as well as to meet any contingent situations relating to power sector, to address critical coal stock position in power plants.

(ii) An Inter-Ministerial meeting at Secretary-level, comprising of Secretary (Power), Secretary (Coal) and Chairman Railway Board is also held regularly to monitor the coal stocks at thermal power plants.

(iii) Government of India has issued the Revised SHAKTI Policy for coal allocation to power sector on 07.05.2025. Under the Revised SHAKTI Policy 2025, two windows have been created for grant of fresh coal linkages to Thermal Power Plants of Central Sector/State Sector / Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Under Window I, coal linkage may be allocated to Central GENCOs / States at Notified Prices whereas under Window-II, any power plant may get coal through auction route at a Premium above Notified Prices.

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