New Delhi: The Ministry of Coal has urged the Uttar Pradesh government to expedite the development of the Saharpur Jamarpani captive coal block in Jharkhand, citing the need to strengthen long-term fuel security for the state’s thermal power plants.
The block, located in Dumka district of Jharkhand, has reserves of more than 973 million tonnes and was allotted to Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) in August 2015.
The Ministry’s statement comes amid recent reports about coal supply disruptions and power shortages in Uttar Pradesh. However, the Ministry clarified that as of September 15, 2026, none of UPRVUNL’s thermal power plants was in the critical-stock category.
Saharpur Jamarpani Coal Block Remains Unoperational
The Saharpur Jamarpani block was allotted to UPRVUNL on August 13, 2015, under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015.
The block was specifically allocated to meet the coal requirements of UPRVUNL’s thermal power projects. However, more than 10 years after its allocation, the block has not yet been operationalised.
As a result, Uttar Pradesh’s thermal power plants continue to depend entirely on Coal India Limited (CIL) for their coal requirements.
The Ministry pointed out that 14 other captive coal blocks allotted for power-sector use on or after the allocation of Saharpur Jamarpani have already been operationalised and have started supplying coal to their respective end-use plants.
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Ministry Seeks Faster Development of Coal Block
The Ministry of Coal has advised Uttar Pradesh to take urgent steps to develop the Saharpur Jamarpani block.
Operationalising the block is expected to:
- Reduce UPRVUNL’s dependence on external coal sources.
- Strengthen long-term fuel security for thermal power plants.
- Provide a captive source of coal for UPRVUNL’s power projects.
- Support more reliable fuel availability for power generation.
The Ministry has emphasised that timely development of the block would strengthen the state’s long-term coal supply arrangements.
UPRVUNL Coal Stocks Improve
The Ministry said CIL continues to fully support UPRVUNL’s coal requirements, while coal stocks at the state’s thermal power plants have shown steady improvement.
Coal stock at UPRVUNL’s plants increased from 7.25 lakh tonnes (LT) on September 1 to 8.41 LT on September 15, 2026.
During the seven days preceding September 15:
- Average daily coal receipts: Around 0.90 LT
- Average daily coal consumption: Around 0.83 LT
The higher daily coal receipts compared with consumption indicate that coal stocks were continuing to build up at the plants.
Rail-Based Coal Supplies Continue
The Ministry also highlighted that rail-based coal supplies to UPRVUNL’s power plants have remained sustained.
CIL supplied an average of around 17.7 rakes per day to UPRVUNL’s power plants during the 10 days preceding September 15.
In addition, CIL offered extra coal quantities under the Road/RCR mode to generating companies and independent power producers, including UPRVUNL, on September 3.
The additional supply was intended to facilitate further augmentation of coal stocks at thermal power plants.
Unloading Constraints Affect Coal Supply
While coal stocks have improved, the Ministry pointed to operational constraints at some UPRVUNL power plants, particularly issues related to unloading.
According to the Ministry, such constraints periodically result in restrictions on rake placement by the Railways. This can limit the further augmentation of coal supplies to the plants.
The Ministry also noted that despite coal stocks rising to more than 8 LT, the current-month Plant Load Factor (PLF) of UPRVUNL’s thermal power plants is only around 48%.
It said that lower generation during the current month therefore cannot be attributed to inadequate coal availability at the plant end.
The Ministry has indicated that improving generation would require the state to address operational constraints at its generating stations and ensure optimal utilisation of the available coal stock.
Ministry Reiterates Commitment to Coal Supply
The Ministry of Coal and CIL reiterated their commitment to supplying coal to power plants across the country, including those in Uttar Pradesh.
At the same time, the Ministry has advised the Uttar Pradesh government to prioritise the early development of the Saharpur Jamarpani captive coal block.
The development of the block is expected to help Uttar Pradesh strengthen long-term fuel security for its thermal power plants and reduce dependence on external coal sources.
About Coal India Limited
Coal India Limited (CIL) is a Maharatna public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Coal, Government of India and is the country’s largest coal-producing company. CIL supplies coal primarily to the power sector and other key industries and operates through its mining subsidiaries across India.
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