India power demand hits record as heatwave boosts coal use, strains supply

India’s electricity demand surged to a record high of 256.1 gigawatts on April 25, driven by extreme heat conditions, according to data cited by Mysteel.

The new peak surpassed the previous record of 252.08 GW, as temperatures climbed above 45°C in northern and central regions, with nearly 60 cities reporting temperatures above 40°C.

Demand is expected to rise further to around 271 GW in May and June, significantly higher than 243 GW recorded during the same period last year, amid an unusually strong El Niño weather pattern.

To ensure supply, authorities have ordered coal-fired power plants using imported fuel to operate at full capacity and invoked emergency measures to restart idle gas-fired plants through June 30.

Read also: India delays coal plant maintenance amid summer demand surge

Coal continues to play a central role in meeting demand. Power generation from coal-fired plants is estimated to rise 13.3% year-on-year to 341 terawatt-hours in the first quarter of the 2026–27 fiscal year, while coal consumption by utilities is projected to increase 11.5% to 233 million tonnes.

At the same time, stockpiles at power plants have declined, with coal inventories falling 7% month-on-month to 54.42 million tonnes. Nineteen plants are reported to be operating at critical stock levels.

Imports have partially offset supply pressures, with seaborne coal deliveries rising 8.7% in mid-April. Shipments from Russia more than doubled to 838,000 tonnes, compensating for reduced volumes from key suppliers such as Indonesia and Australia.

The surge in demand highlights ongoing reliance on coal despite growth in renewable energy, as the country manages peak load pressures during extreme weather conditions.

Editing by Alexander Ginting