Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Punjab power generation falls 1,500 MW amid national coal shortage
Punjab is facing electricity shortages because power plants do not have enough coal.
The state’s power generation has fallen by about 1,500 MW.
This has led to power cuts for homes and factories.
Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said the problem has lasted for two to three days.
He said the coal shortage is affecting about 63 GW of power supply across the country.
Some plants have only three or four days of coal left.
Two major Punjab plants are operating at about half their normal capacity.
Plants supplied with coal by the Punjab government reportedly have about 10 days of stock.
Sond asked the central government to solve the shortage and restore steady electricity.
Punjab’s power generation has declined by around 1,500 MW amid a severe national coal shortage.
Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said electricity cuts were imposed on domestic and industrial consumers for two to three days.
The coal shortage has reportedly affected around 63 GW of power supply across India.
Rajpura’s Nabha Power Limited and the Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant are operating at about half capacity because of reduced coal supplies.
Sond urged the central government to ensure adequate coal supplies and uninterrupted electricity for households and industries.
- Who
- Punjab Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, the Punjab government, and the central government.
- What
- Punjab’s power generation fell by around 1,500 MW, leading to electricity cuts amid a national coal shortage.
- When
- The shortage had affected Punjab for two to three days as of September 6, 2026.
- Where
- Punjab, including the Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo thermal plants; the shortage also affected power supply across India.
- Why
- Reduced coal supplies forced major thermal plants to operate at about half capacity.
Punjab government’s position
Central government’s position
Cause of the power crisis
Punjab government’s position
Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond attributed Punjab’s electricity shortage to inadequate coal supplies from the Centre and said major plants were operating at about half capacity.
Central government’s position
The article reports no response or separate explanation from the central government.
Coal-management efforts
Punjab government’s position
Sond said plants supplied with coal by the Punjab government had about 10 days of stock because of state efforts.
Central government’s position
Sond said the central government had not ensured full coal supplies to the Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo plants.
Requested response
Punjab government’s position
Punjab urged the central government to take immediate action, explain how long the shortage would last, and ensure uninterrupted power for households and industries.
Central government’s position
No specific measures or timeline from the central government were provided in the article.
- Power-generation decline
- Around 1,500 MW in Punjab
- National impact
- Around 63 GW of power supply affected
- Punjab electricity cuts
- Imposed on domestic and industrial sectors for two to three days
- Coal stock at some plants
- Only three to four days remaining
- Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo plants
- Operating at around half capacity because of reduced central coal supplies
- State-supplied plants
- Reportedly had around 10 days of coal stock
- Statement date
- September 6, 2026