India's coal-fired power plants are facing a tightening fuel supply, with current stockpiles sufficient for only 13 days of operation—well below the mandated 26-day reserve—amid rising electricity demand and monsoon-related generation disruptions.

Official data from the National Power Portal shows that 190 plants, with a combined installed capacity of over 224 GW, require 3.1 million tonnes of coal (domestic and imported) daily at an average plant load factor of 85%. Their available stock stands at 40.4 million tonnes.

Separately, around 152 million tonnes of coal inventory remain at mines operated by Coal India Limited and other producers, Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey informed Parliament on July 22.

The power ministry has stated that thermal plants are receiving adequate supplies to meet day-to-day needs, and a joint coordination group comprising the ministries of power, railways, and coal is tracking deliveries on a daily basis.