Latest government data show that India's coal-fired power generation recorded its highest year-on-year growth in three years in October, driven by a decline in hydro output caused by the El Nino phenomenon and surging electricity demand from industrial activity.
Reuters reported on November 1 that, based on daily data from India's grid operator, coal power generation rose 25.7% year-on-year in October, with its share of total generation climbing from 66.03% in September to 71.7%. Hydro power generation fell 26% year-on-year in October due to reduced rainfall, the steepest drop since February 2024.
Amid surging power demand, fuel stocks at 100 of India's 191 thermal power plants fell to critically low levels at one point in October.
India's power supply gap reached 5.6 billion kilowatt-hours in September, the highest since August 2023. The shortage has eased as coal generation increased and weather cooled in late October. Total electricity generation in October rose 21.1% year-on-year to 172.53 billion kWh.
