New Delhi: Coal India Limited (CIL) has lined up 23.56 million tonnes (MT) of coal for e-auctions in March as India moves to cushion supply disruptions in LNG and LPG triggered by the escalating West Asia crisis by replacing portions of the demand with coal. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Coal said CIL has planned 29 e-auctions this month, offering 23.56 MT of coal. Of these, five auctions conducted since March 12 offered 73.1 lakh tonnes, of which 31.96 lakh tonnes have already been booked.
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The ministry said the response indicates “adequacy of coal offered in the e-auctions,” even as it steps up supply to meet rising demand from sectors impacted by gas shortages.
The ramp-up in auction supply comes alongside a build-up in coal inventories across the system. Coal stock at CIL mines has increased to 125.54 MT as on March 18, 2026, from 106.78 MT on April 1, 2025. Additional stocks include 5.75 MT at Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), 15.75 MT at captive and commercial mines, around 12 MT in transit, and 5.49 MT at ports and goods sheds.
Coal available at power plants stands at 53.41 MT, which is sufficient for nearly 23 days at the current rate of consumption.
“The coal production in the country continues at a pace matching with the prevailing demands of the consumer and building adequate stocks at the mine-end for maintaining adequate supplies to the consumers as per their requirements with the continued support of Railways,” the Ministry of Coal said.
The coal supply push comes after Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told Parliament on March 12 that India would activate alternate fuels such as kerosene, fuel oil and coal to meet demand from commercial and industrial consumers dependent on LNG and LPG.
The move follows disruptions in energy supplies linked to the escalating conflict in West Asia, which has impacted crude oil, LPG and LNG shipments through key routes and tightened availability of imports. The government has rationed LNG and LPG to ensure 100 percent demands are met for domestic consumers of piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG). This has left out commercial and industrial consumers of gas with rationed supplies.
The Ministry of Coal said it is ensuring reliable baseload supply to core sectors, such as steel and cement, which underpin economic growth. “Coal is continuing to ensure reliable baseload power to support core industries such as steel and cement that underpin the economic growth of the country,” the ministry said.
CIL has also initiated measures to ensure supply to small, medium and other consumers through e-auctions and the State Nominated Agencies (SNAs) route. The company has asked state governments to indicate additional coal requirements, which “can be met in full to avoid any energy shortages,” the ministry said.
It added that coal offtake by states through SNAs is being closely monitored to ensure uninterrupted supply.
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The ministry said it remains committed to maintaining a stable and transparent coal ecosystem through policy support, monitoring and stakeholder engagement. “The Ministry of Coal remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering a stable, transparent, and performance-driven ecosystem through sustained policy facilitation, robust monitoring mechanisms, and proactive stakeholder engagement,” it said.
“These concerted efforts are aimed at ensuring reliable coal availability, enabling uninterrupted operations across critical sectors, and effectively meeting the nation’s growing energy demands,” the ministry added.