# India orders captive coal plants to boost power output

> India mandates 100+ captive coal plants to run at max capacity through year-end to meet rising electricity demand.
- Title: India orders captive coal plants to boost power output
- Summary: India mandates 100+ captive coal plants to run at max capacity through year-end to meet rising electricity demand. India ordered 100+ captive coal plants to…
- Keywords: india, captive coal plants, power output, electricity demand, el nino, power ministry, tata power, mundra, electricity act, coal-fired plants, orders, captive
- Source: The Economic Times — https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/indl-goods/svs/metals-mining/india-orders-captive-coal-plants-to-maximise-power-output-on-surging-demand/articleshow/134499147.cms
- Author: Reuters
- Published: 2026-09-26T06:50:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: india, captive coal plants, power output, electricity demand, el nino, power ministry, tata power, mundra, electricity act, coal-fired plants
## Power ministry directive
India has ordered more than 100 captive coal-fired power plants to operate at maximum capacity from October 1 through year-end.
## Emergency order scope
The federal power ministry's order applies to plants with installed capacity of at least 50 megawatts under emergency provisions of the Electricity Act.
## Demand surge context
Nearly 40% of coal-fired plants operate with critically low fuel stock due to rising electricity demand from El Nino climate effects.
## Key plant operators
The order covers 112 plants belonging to companies including Vedanta, Tata Steel, Hindalco Industries, JSW Steel, UltraTech Cement, Reliance Industries, Indian Oil, Bharat Aluminium, Hindustan Zinc and Nayara Energy.
## Weekly reporting requirement
Plants must report weekly to the Central Electricity Authority detailing generation, captive consumption, power sales, available capacity and coal stocks.
## Extended emergency order
The ministry extended an earlier emergency order requiring Tata Power's imported coal-fired plant in Mundra, Gujarat to operate at full capacity until December 31.
## Key takeaway

India ordered 100+ captive coal plants to operate at full capacity from October to year-end to address surging power demand.