Power crisis deepens in Punjab, private thermal plants have 3 days of coal

September 7, 2026

Amritsar: The power situation in Punjab is once again becoming worrisome. Private thermal plants in the state claim to have only about three days of coal stock left. If new coal supplies don’t arrive during this time, power generation could be affected, and the risk of prolonged power outages could increase in the coming days.

Differences between government and central government claims

The Punjab government says that coal stocks at private thermal plants are rapidly depleting, and the lack of timely arrival of new rakes could worsen the crisis. Meanwhile, the Union Coal Ministry has rejected the claim of a coal shortage.

According to the ministry, as of September 4, PSPCL’s government thermal plants had 117 percent of their required coal stock. The central government has attributed the low power generation to low PLF (Plant Load Factor) rather than a coal shortage.

Power demand reaches 15,900 MW

Power demand in Punjab has reached approximately 15,900 MW, while the state’s own production is approximately 4,862 MW. Consequently, approximately 11,100 MW of power has to be purchased from the central pool and other sources.

The state’s five major thermal plants have a total capacity of approximately 5,680 MW, but currently only about 3,800 MW is being produced. Government plants have reported coal stocks for approximately 8 to 10 days, while private plants have claimed a stockpile of only three days.

Center reports sufficient coal in government plants

According to the Coal Ministry, PSPCL’s three thermal plants—Lahra Mohabbat, Goindwal Sahib, and Ropar—have a total capacity of 2,300 MW. As of September 4th, these plants had approximately 117 percent of their projected coal availability.

Despite this, the average PLF of these plants in August was only 42 percent. The central government says this clearly demonstrates that coal shortages are not the primary reason for the low production.

Nabha Power Produced at 93% PLF

According to the central government, Nabha Power Limited (NPL) produced electricity at approximately 93 percent PLF in August. The ministry claims the company received adequate coal from Coal India Limited.

The central government also stated that NPL and Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL) are permitted to utilize up to 50 percent of the production from Pachwara Central Coal Mine. According to the ministry, booking and timely transportation of coal is also the responsibility of the power companies.

Two Units Still Shut Down

Meanwhile, some units of Punjab’s government-owned thermal plants remain shut down. One unit at Lahra Mohabbat and Unit No. 6 at Ropar are currently reported to be out of service. Production at Talwandi Sabo is relatively good, while other plants are producing about half their capacity.

Solar power provides some relief during the day, but solar production ceases by evening. Consequently, reduced production from thermal plants during peak hours could increase pressure on the grid.

Next Three Days Crucial

If private thermal plants do not receive new coal supplies in the next three days, power generation could decline further. This could force Punjab to purchase more power from outside and lead to the possibility of increased power outages.

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