NEW DELHI: Coal stocks at thermal power plants across the country have fallen to less than half the recommended level, with 50 plants classified as having 'critically low' inventories as on Sept 2 amid high electricity demand and monsoon-led disruptions in supplies, Central Electricity Authority data showed.The plants, with a combined capacity of around 224 GW, had 28.2 million tonnes (MT) of coal as of Wednesday, 48% of the prescribed requirement of 58.7 MT. The available stock is equivalent to about nine days of coal requirement at 85% plant load factor, against the normal requirement of around 19 days.The plants classified as short on coal stocks have less than 25% of their normative inventories. Coal ministry officials, however, said all critical plants were being monitored by an inter-ministerial team of officials on a day-to-day basis and regular fuel supplies were being provided to them.Of the 50 plants, 45 are based on domestic fuel, four are designed for imported coal and one runs on washery rejects.A senior coal ministry official said, "Classification of a thermal power plant as critical is a routine monitoring parameter under norms laid down by CEA. It simply means closer tracking and priority action. These plants are not running out of supply."

Though the normative coal requirement at power plants is calculated at 3.1 MT every day at 85% plant load factor, officials said the actual requirement is around 2.4 MT.

The monsoon sees supply disruptions every year. The situation starts improving from Sept onwards as rains begin to recede.While the power ministry did not respond to requests for a reaction, sources said some coal-fired plants had been asked to defer scheduled maintenance to ensure continuity of electricity generation.