Coal stock at thermal power plants hits all-time high of 58.25 million tonnes

Coal stock at thermal power plants touched an all-time high of 58.25 million tonnes, which is sufficient to meet 25 days of consumption, officials after a high-level meeting was held between Ministry of Coal and Mines and Ministry of Railways on Tuesday (June 24, 2025)

Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed coal logistics and the efficiency of transportation systems in the high level meeting.

Officials stated that the primary focus of the discussion was on accelerating silo loading infrastructure, which plays a critical role in improving the quality and speed of coal evacuation. Over the years, 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).

Silo loading refers to the mechanised 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 shovelling. 

“Silo loading 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,” a Ministry of Railways spokesperson said. 

The coal stock at all thermal power plants has reached an all-time high of 58.25 million tonnes, sufficient to meet 25 days of consumption. “This record stockpile ensures an uninterrupted power supply during the peak summer months, and provides reassurance of adequate stock for the upcoming monsoon period, when coal production and transportation often face challenges due to heavy rainfall,” the spokesperson added. 

The Ministers reviewed ongoing and proposed projects aimed at expanding silo infrastructure across key coalfields. The need for enhanced inter-ministerial coordination to ensure seamless operations from mine to plant was also discussed during the meeting.