DBT Bureau
Pune, 28 Feb 2026
Coal India Limited (CIL) allays the domestic coal deficiency situation even as power demand began picking up in January, signalling that coal demand could rise in the ensuing months.
Coal India’s producing subsidiaries are holding sizeable pithead coal stocks to the tune of 115 Million Tonnes (MTs) as of 26 February 2026, which will further increase by the close of the fiscal.
Coal stocks at domestic coal-based power plants stand at nearly 55 MTs, the highest ever for the corresponding period. Further, there is a transit stock of 5.5 MTs of coal at goods sheds, washeries, and ports put together.
The on-tap coal availability is approximately 175.5 MTs through these sources. This level of domestic coal sufficiency in the system can meet any spurt in power demand and demand from other sectors as well, dispelling coal scarcity concerns.
The in-situ coal exposure at mines that contribute to 90% of CIL’s total annual output was 60.2 MTs at the end of the first fortnight of February 2026. This means large quantities of coal are already uncovered through overburden removal and are ready for extraction and supply at short notice.
“The cumulative quantity of CIL’s pithead stock, plant stock at domestic coal-based thermal power stations, and exposed coal in-situ provide strong operational assurance,” said a senior official of CIL.
Higher domestic coal availability could also catalyse a reduction in coal imports. International coal prices have also shown an upward trend as of February 2026.
