Coal India Boosts Power Supply as H1 Despatch Hits 302 MT
- What: 302.8 MT coal dispatched to utilities
- Offtake growth: 7.6% rise across first half
- Inventory draw: 63 MT pithead stock liquidated
- Power output: Domestic coal generation up 9.9%
Thermal power utilities received 302.8 million tonnes of coal from Coal India Limited during the first half of FY 2026-27, marking a 6.1 percent increase over the previous year. Power generators absorbed nearly four-fifths of the state miner's total dispatches, insulating the national grid from seasonal electricity shortages during the tail end of the monsoon.
Total company offtake reached 384.2 million tonnes between April and September, accelerating sharply in the second quarter with a 12 percent year-on-year surge. Rather than depending entirely on wet-pit mining output, Coal India liquidated 63 million tonnes of accumulated pithead stockpiles, keeping rakes moving steadily to generation hubs.
This sustained fuel delivery pushed domestic coal-based power generation up 9.9 percent to 640.05 billion units over the six-month period. Momentum intensified in late September and early October as dispatches touched 1.87 million tonnes a day, aided by 46 automated coal handling plants and silos with 432 million tonnes of mechanized loading capacity.
The focus is now shifting toward institutionalizing long-term evacuation capacity as new greenfield mines come online. By expanding first-mile rail connectivity and mechanized close-loop silos, the miner aims to replace road transshipment, curb transit losses, and guarantee steady fuel supplies ahead of the winter power peak.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much coal did Coal India supply to the power sector in H1 FY 2026-27?
Coal India dispatched 302.8 million tonnes to thermal power plants between April and September 2026, a 6.1 percent increase year-on-year.
How did Coal India sustain high supplies during the monsoon season?
The company liquidated 63 million tonnes of pithead coal reserves during the first half of the financial year to offset seasonal mining slowdowns.
What impact did increased coal supplies have on electricity generation?
Domestic coal-based electricity generation rose 9.9 percent to 640.05 billion units during the first six months of FY 2026-27.
Source
Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Coal (Release ID: 2319084) · 2026-10-05
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