India sees power use surging to record, adding to energy crisis

India is already facing energy woes because of the war in Iran. Read more at straitstimes.com.

India expects a surge in peak power demand to a record during the hot season, according to people familiar with the matter, potentially adding to energy woes the country is already facing because of the war in Iran.

The ministry is in talks with coal miners and the railway department to ensure there’s enough fuel at power stations from April, the people said, asking not to be named as they’re not authorised to speak to the press. Use could top out at 283 gigawatts during the most extreme periods, a 13 per cent jump compared to the current record of 250 gigawatts set in the summer of 2024.

The war in the Middle East, now in its third week, has roiled energy markets, cutting off flows of crude and liquefied natural gas to the world and driving up prices. India is a major importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other products from the region, and disruptions have already started to hit various industries, from hotels and restaurants to fertiliser makers and oil refiners.

A potential jump in electricity demand bodes well for power companies as well as coal miners, including Coal India, which has seen its unsold inventory rising to a record in 2026. The ministry plans to issue an advisory to all coal power plants to defer any maintenance shutdowns planned for the summer, according to the people. It could also invoke emergency rules to switch idle power stations back on.

The power ministry didn’t immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment.

The country has enough generation during daytime to meet the surge in demand, according to the people. The evening, when nearly 140 gigawatts of solar capacity is idle, can be trickier. That could be compounded by disrupted supplies of liquefied natural gas, putting more pressure on coal power plants.