New Delhi: India’s coal production rose 7.5% in July compared to the same month last year, while dispatches jumped 17.34%, driven by higher power demand amid a weaker monsoon.
Official data showed the country produced 69.75 million tonnes of coal in July. The increase in output was supported by stepped-up mining across public and private mines to meet the needs of power plants.
Dispatches grew at a faster pace than production, up 17.34% year-on-year, as utilities rushed to replenish stocks. The surge came on the back of rising electricity consumption, which was fueled by hotter and drier weather.
India’s power consumption grew by about 11% in June to 170.7 billion units, compared to the same period last year. Demand for cooling appliances like air conditioners and fans climbed due to lower-than-normal monsoon rainfall.
Officials said the higher offtake from coal-based plants reflects the continued dependence on thermal power to meet peak demand, even as renewable capacity expands. The government has been pushing for higher coal stocks at power plants to avoid supply disruptions during the peak summer months.
