Coal stock at Indian power plants rises to 61.3 MT, sufficient for 25 days of use

Coal stock at thermal power plants across the country reached an all-time high of 61.3 million tonnes, a Railways Ministry statement said. This record stockpile is possible due to mechanised loading of coal on to wagons - called silo loading, and is sufficient to meet 25 days of India’s consumption. Officials said the coal stock at Indian power plants is now more than Canada’s total coal production.

The statement was issued after a joint review by Coal and Mines Minister, G Kishan Reddy, and Railways Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw. The Ministers focused on expanding silo infrastructure across key coalfields.

Silo loading refers to the mechanized process of loading bulk materials (like coal) into railway wagons directly from a storage silo, rather than using conventional methods like front-end loaders or manual shoveling. It ensures uniform coal sizing, eliminates complaints related to oversized boulders from power plants, reduces damage to wagons, and enables reliable operations unaffected by adverse weather conditions.

“There has been a notable increase in the share of coal loaded through silos—from 18.8% in 2022–23 to 29% in 2025–26 (till date)—demonstrating a clear and sustained push towards improving coal logistics,” the statement added.