Coal India achieves landmark operational performance in Oct'26
Coal India (CIL) recorded a landmark operational performance in October FY 2026-27, achieving highest-ever monthly total coal supplies and supplies to the power sector for the first time in its history. The company's coal production also reached its highest-ever levels for the month of October in any financial year. The achievement assumes greater significance in view of the need to augment coal stocks at thermal power plants amid rising power demand, while disruptions caused by unseasonal rainfall, the Puja festivities and impact of a cyclone posed challenges to the operational performance.
CIL's monthly coal supplies crossed the 70 million tonnes (MT) mark for the first time, reaching 70.3 MT and surpassing the previous monthly record of 69.4 MT achieved in March 2026. This represents a robust 19% growth over the 59.2 MT supplied in October FY 2025 26. CIL's subsidiary MCL also crossed the 20 MT monthly supply mark for the first time in October, contributing significantly to this landmark achievement. CIL had first reached the 60 MT monthly supply mark in March 2021, and since then, supplies had hovered between 60-69 MT.
CIL's supplies to the power sector crossed 57 MT mark for the first time in the company's history, reaching 57.1 MT in October FY 2026-27. Earlier, the monthly high of 56.5 MT was recorded in May 2024. The latest achievement is also 19% higher than the 48 MT supplied in October FY 2025-26 demonstrating CIL's enhanced capacity to respond to the requirements of thermal power plants.
Another historic milestone was achieved in railway coal evacuation, with CIL recording an average power-sector rake loading of 310 rakes per day during October FY 2026 - 27, the highest-ever monthly average in the company's history. The 300-rake-per-day mark was last surpassed in March 2025, when the average loading stood at 302.8 rakes per day.
?What is more remarkable about these achievements is that the previous supply and railway rake records corresponding to the month of March, which happens to be the peak performance month of any fiscal, are being surpassed in the month of October? said a senior official. Coal production in October FY 2026-27 reached 67.2 MT, setting a new record for the month of October and surpassing the previous October high of 62.47 MT recorded in October 2024. Production was around 19% higher than the 56.38 MT achieved in October FY 2025-26, reflecting a sharp acceleration in mining activity following the monsoon season.
?With both coal production and offtake gaining momentum, we are on the cusp of seeing stock accretion, both at power plant ends and at pit head? said a senior official. The simultaneous growth in coal supplies, production and overburden removal underscores the company's commitment to supporting India's energy security while building a strong operational foundation for the remaining months of FY 2026-27.