Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Kishan Reddy Says India Has No Coal Shortage
India’s coal minister said power plants have enough coal.
Demand for coal-based electricity increased because hydropower production fell.
Rain also temporarily disrupted some coal mining.
The minister said these problems do not mean the country is facing a coal shortage.
Coal is being sent to power plants by road and train.
Coal India is working to make mines safer and more efficient.
It is using tools such as artificial intelligence, sensors, and data systems.
The company is also building railway projects to move coal more quickly.
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy said India has enough coal despite increased thermal power demand.
Thermal power demand rose by about 12–15% as lower hydropower generation increased reliance on coal.
Monsoon-related disruptions affected mining, but Reddy said they did not amount to a coal shortage.
The minister said coal was being transported to power plants by both road and rail.
Coal India Limited is modernising mines and expanding digital systems, underground production, and railway-linked evacuation infrastructure.
- Who
- Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Coal India Limited.
- What
- The minister said India has no coal shortage and discussed coal production, mine modernisation, and coal transportation.
- When
- Monday; Reddy was conducting a two-day review of Coal India’s operations.
- Where
- Kolkata, with broader references to India and West Bengal’s coal industry.
- Why
- Thermal power demand increased by around 12–15% because hydropower generation declined, while monsoon conditions temporarily disrupted mining.
- Coal availability
- G. Kishan Reddy said there was no shortage of coal at power plants.
- Thermal power demand
- Demand increased by around 12–15%.
- Transport
- Coal is being moved to power plants by road and rail.
- Mining disruptions
- Monsoon rains temporarily affected coal mining operations.
- Coal India review
- Reddy began a two-day review of Coal India Limited’s operations, projects, and post-monsoon dispatches.
- Underground production target
- Coal India aims to raise underground production to around 100 million tonnes.
- Railway infrastructure
- Four of seven critical railway projects, involving Rs 23,465 crore, have been commissioned; the remainder is targeted for completion by FY 2027–28.