Coal stock slips to an all-time low of 30 million tonnes as demand rises

Officials said the stock pile (ready to be dispatched coal) with the mine is low as the off-take has increased and it is a good sign

As states gear up for elections and several others rush to meet the Centre’s electrification deadline, power demand is touching a new record every day. Meanwhile, failing to catch up, coal supply has dipped to a record low. According to an industry source, stocks at the coal pithead and power plants have touched an all-time low of about 30 million tonne (mt), as demand has gone up and imports have dropped. 

“In the beginning of the year, this was around 50 mt,” an official said. There are 31 power units that have critical (less than seven days) and sub-critical (less than