India’s October power demand rises 4.1%, coal-fired output up 1.8%

India’s electricity demand grew 4.1% in October, with supply falling short of demand by 1%, despite a rise of 1.8% in coal-fired generation and an increase of 28.4% in solar output, a Reuters analysis of government data showed.

Demand boosted by increased economic activity after the second wave of coronavirus infections caused a shortage of coal that forced India’s northern states to cut power last month for up to 14 hours a day.

The rapid demand surge and high global prices have left utilities scrambling for coal, India’s dominant fuel for power generation, despite record supplies from state-run Coal India, which has a near-monopoly of production.