Thermal Power Demand Up 12-15% as Monsoon Weak, Coal Supply Steady

Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy said that despite a weak monsoon season, coal deliveries to thermal power plants remain uninterrupted. Road and rail corridors are delivering the requisite volumes, and there is no evidence of a supply crunch.

He explained that the shortfall in rainfall has lowered hydro‑electric generation and affected mining operations, which in turn has pushed thermal power demand up by an estimated 12‑15 percent. Nevertheless, the logistics chain is coping with the heightened requirement.

Speaking at an aluminium industry roadshow, Reddy accused West Bengal’s coal sector of suffering under prolonged “jungle‑raj” and mafia influence, and stated that the centre is now pushing reforms to increase transparency and state earnings.

In Kolkata, the minister is overseeing a comprehensive two‑day audit of Coal India Limited’s projects and post‑monsoon coal availability. The company is transitioning to modern underground and open‑cast mining, employing IoT, artificial intelligence and data analytics to improve recovery, enable predictive maintenance and operate smart‑mine control rooms.