[SMM Coal Flash] Bayan Resources Lifts Force Majeure as Three Subsidiaries Secure Revised 2026 RKAB

India has ordered 112 captive coal-fired power plants with capacity of at least 50 MW to operate at maximum capacity from October 1 through December 31, as the government prepares for an expected increase in electricity demand. The September 25 directive, issued by the federal power ministry under emergency provisions of the Electricity Act, covers captive plants primarily serving aluminium smelters, steel mills, cement plants and oil refineries, including facilities operated by Vedanta, Tata Steel, Hindalco, JSW Steel and others. Generators have also been instructed to sell surplus electricity through power exchanges and submit weekly reports covering generation, captive consumption, available capacity and coal stocks. The measure comes as nearly 40% of India’s coal-fired plants are operating with critically low fuel inventories, amid stronger power demand linked to hotter-than-usual weather.

Indonesia is drafting a Presidential Regulation to establish an Energy Sector BLU to procure and distribute coal and natural gas for power generation. The proposed procurement role raises questions over how BLU Energi would interact with the existing DMO framework, coal pricing and domestic supply allocations.

Global crude steel production in August 2026 decreased by 1.2% year-on-year to 144.2 million tonnes, bringing the January-August total down 0.7% to 1.22 billion tonnes. India recorded a strong 4.6% increase to 14.8 million tonnes and the US saw a 3.0% rise to 7.3 million tonnes, offsetting declines in other regions. In contrast, output from the EU-27 dropped 1.0% to 8.9 million tonnes, while South America experienced a 4.9% decline led by lower Brazilian production.