Indian homes, factories hit by hours of blackouts amid more demand for coal
Por Bloomberg — South China Morning Post – News feed
Advertisement India Asia South Asia Indian homes, factories hit by hours of blackouts amid more demand for coal
Coal-fired power stations supply about two-thirds of India’s electricity. Energy issues include extra hot weather increasing air-con use
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Bloomberg Published: 5:13pm, 12 Oct 2026 Updated: 5:18pm, 12 Oct 2026
Indian factories, smelters and households are being hit by blackouts and rising energy costs as the impact of plunging coal stockpiles at the country’s power stations ripples through the economy.
The weakest monsoon since 2015 has curbed hydropower output, while hotter-than-normal weather has buoyed demand for air conditioning and farm irrigation.
That has seen coal-fired power stations, which supply about two-thirds of India’s electricity, rapidly burn through their inventories.
Smaller factories, farmers and households are facing power cuts as demand outweighs supply on the grid.
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