Coal India Limited (CIL) on Friday, February 27, said it is fully prepared to meet a likely spike in coal demand during the upcoming summer months, as power consumption has already begun rising since January.
In a press statement filed with the exchanges, the state-run miner said a three-layer buffer across the supply chain, comprising coal stock at its pitheads, inventory at thermal power plants and exposed in-situ coal at mines, ensures comfortable domestic availability and dispels concerns of shortages.
As of February 26, 2026, CIL’s producing subsidiaries held 115 million tonnes (MT) of coal at pitheads, a figure expected to rise further by the end of the fiscal year. Coal stocks at domestic coal-based power plants stood at nearly 55 MT as of February 25, the highest ever for this period. Additionally, around 5.5 MT of coal was available in transit at goods sheds, washeries and ports.
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Taken together, the total readily available domestic coal stands at approximately 175.5 MT, which CIL said is sufficient to meet any sudden increase in power demand as well as requirements from other sectors.
The company also highlighted that in-situ coal exposure — coal already uncovered and ready for extraction — at mines accounting for 90% of its annual output was at 60.2 MT as of mid-February. This allows for faster dispatch in response to demand spikes.
A senior CIL official said, “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.”
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CIL added that higher domestic availability could help reduce coal imports, especially at a time when international coal prices have been trending upward in February.
Shares of the company gained nearly 2% from the day’s lows and were trading at ₹434.3 around 1.30 pm. The stock has gained 18.91% in the last 12 months.
