New Delhi, September 17: Recent media reports have indicated that the State of Uttar Pradesh is facing a severe power shortage on account of a disruption in coal supply. The Ministry of Coal places the following facts on record to clarify the actual position and to reiterate its advice to the State to expedite development of its own captive coal block, even as Coal India Limited (CIL) continues to fully meet the State’s coal requirement.
As on 15.09.2026, none of the thermal power plants of Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) is in the critical-stock category. The current stock position, therefore, does not indicate any critical coal availability constraint at the plant end.
UP Needs to Expedite Development of Its Own Captive Mine
The Saharpur Jamarpani coal block in Dumka district, Jharkhand, holding reserves of more than 973 million tonnes, was allotted to UPRVUNL by the Ministry of Coal on 13.08.2015 under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015, specifically to meet the coal requirement of UPRVUNL’s thermal power projects.
More than ten years since the allotment, no progress has been made towards operationalisation of the block, on account of a lack of requisite initiative by UPRVUNL. As a result, the entire coal requirement of Uttar Pradesh’s power plants continues to be met by CIL.
By contrast, fourteen other coal blocks allotted for captive use in the power sector on or after the date of allotment of Saharpur Jamarpani have already been operationalised and have commenced coal production for their respective end-use plants. The Ministry of Coal has advised the State of Uttar Pradesh to take urgent steps towards development of the Saharpur Jamarpani block, so as to reduce its dependence on external sources and secure long-term fuel security for its power plants.
Coal Supply Position: CIL Continues to Fully Support UPRVUNL
The coal stock position at UPRVUNL’s thermal power plants has been improving steadily. Stock stood at 7.25 lakh tonnes (LT) on 01.09.2026 and rose to 8.41 LT by 15.09.2026. Over the last seven days, average daily coal receipt of around 0.90 LT has exceeded average daily consumption of around 0.83 LT, reflecting a continuing build-up of stock.
| Parameter | As on 01.09.2026 | As on 15.09.2026 |
| Coal stock at UPRVUNL plants (LT) | 7.25 | 8.41 |
This improvement is also reflected in sustained rail supplies: over the last 10 days, CIL supplied an average of around 17.7 rakes/day to UPRVUNL’s power plants. CIL has additionally offered extra quantities under Road/RCR mode to all Gencos/IPPs, including UPRVUNL, on 03.09.2026, to further build up stock at thermal power plants (TPPs).
Issues requiring attention at UPRVUNL Plants
Unloading constraints at various plants, which lead to periodic restrictions on rake placement by the Railways, limiting further augmentation of coal supplies.
It is also pertinent to note that despite coal stock having increased to over 8 LT, the current-month Plant Load Factor (PLF) of UPRVUNL’s thermal power plants stands at only around 48%. The lower generation during the current month cannot, therefore, be attributed to inadequate coal availability at the plant end. Improvement in generation would require the State to address operational constraints at its generating stations and ensure optimal utilisation of available coal stock.
The Ministry of Coal and Coal India Limited remain fully committed to supplying coal to the entire country, including the State of Uttar Pradesh. At the same time, the Ministry advises the State of Uttar Pradesh to accord priority to the early development of its captive coal block at Saharpur Jamarpani, so as to build long-term fuel security for its thermal power plants and reduce dependence on external coal sources.
