Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy said on Monday that there is no shortage of coal at power plants in India. He said coal is being supplied by rail and road even as thermal power demand has risen because hydropower generation is lower and monsoon rains have affected mining. Key HighlightsKishan Reddy said there is no coal shortage in the country.Thermal power demand has increased by around 12–15%.Lower hydropower generation has raised the need for coal-based power.Monsoon conditions have affected some coal mining work. What did Kishan Reddy say about coal supply?Reddy said the country has enough coal supply for power plants. He said coal is being moved by both railway rakes and roads.“There is no shortage of coal. We are supplying by rakes and road.”He made the statement on the sidelines of the Assocham-organised Angul Aluminium Roadshow in Kolkata.Reddy said the current situation should not be seen as a coal shortage. He said some problems were caused by the monsoon, but the overall situation remains normal.Why has coal demand increased?Thermal power plants are being used more because hydropower generation has fallen. According to Reddy, thermal power demand has increased by around 12–15%.Hydropower depends on water availability. When hydropower generation falls, coal-based power plants may need to produce more electricity.The monsoon has also affected coal mining in some areas. Heavy rain can make mining and the movement of coal more difficult.Are power plants facing low coal stocks?While Reddy said there is no overall coal shortage, recent reports have shown pressure on coal stocks at some thermal power plants. A Business Standard report said 77 plants had critical stock levels on September 26.Another report said coal inventories at grid-connected power stations had fallen sharply as coal plants were used more to meet electricity demand.This means there is a difference between coal availability in the wider supply system and coal stocks at individual power plants.What did the minister say about the situation?Reddy said temporary supply problems caused by rain should not be treated as a national coal shortage.“The situation is normal. There is no tension.” The Coal Ministry is continuing to monitor coal supply and power-sector requirements. Its official website also lists current meetings and updates related to coal supply and the power sector. For now, the government says coal supplies are continuing despite higher demand and monsoon-related challenges.Also Read : Government Orders Captive Coal Plants to Run at Full Capacity to Ensure Power Supply
