Coal India has 115 MT of stocks to date, is confident about meeting summer demand

State-owned miner Coal India Ltd (CIL) informed on Friday (February 27, 2026) that all its producing subsidiaries combined are holding pithead stocks of up to 115 million tonnes (MT) as on February 26, with the quantum expected to spur further as the fiscal year approaches an end.

Illustrating about the quantum of availability, the Kolkata-headquartered miner exuded confidence in its ability to meet peak power demand as summers approach.

For context, power demand peaks during summer months as consumers increasingly turn to cooling appliances to battle the heat. Essential to also note, according to ICRA, power demand is expected to rebound 5% in FY 2027 buoyed by expectations of normalised weather conditions, a lower base and continued growth in industrial and commercial activity.

The black carbon commodity is utilised to produce more than 70% of power in the country. Additionally, the state-owned miner with its subsidiaries account for more than 70% of the domestic coal production in the country.

According to the public undertaking’s estimates, coal stocks at domestic thermal power plants stands at approximately 55 MT, as on February 25. This excludes a transit stock, that is, stock in transit of 5.5 MT at goods sheds, washeries and ports put together.

Further, the on-tap accessibility of coal, that is, quantities that could be made available for extraction, transport and consumption on shorter notices to meet sudden upward fluctuation in demand from power or any other sector, stands at approximately 175.5 MT.

Lastly, the in-situ coal exposure, that is uncovered coal which is ready to be extracted and made available for supply at shorter notices, stands at 60.2 MT as on February 15.

“The cumulative quantity of CIL’s pithead stock, plant stock at domestic coal based thermal power stations and exposed coal in-situ provides strong operational assurance”, stated a senior official of CIL.