India looks to coal as power crisis worsens and monsoons arrive

Experts say India’s recurring power shortage is a result of a supply chain problem, not capacity, while slow progress of renewables continues to be a problem, reports Stuti Mishra

In April 2022, India witnessed acute power shortages due to the unavailability of coal, with more than 100 million units of energy shortage on eight days of the month (AP)

The power plants in India that ran dry during the sweltering heatwave in the last couple of months may not get any respite as the temperature drops and brings monsoon showers, despite the government’s frantic efforts to increase the country’s coal production

India has been reeling under its worst power crisis in more than six years as an extreme and early heatwave raised electricity demand, despite record coal production in 2021-2022. But the worst isn’t over for India. According to a recent report by The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), India is likely to face another power crisis in July-August due to a lower pre-monsoon coal stock at power plants.

“The data compiled from official sources suggest that the coal power plants are in no position to address even a minor spike in the power demand and there is a need to plan for coal transportation well in advance,” the independent research agency said in its latest report. “If coal stocks are not replenished to adequate levels before monsoon, the country might be heading towards yet another power crisis in July-August 2022,” said CREA.