[SMM Coal Flash] Raspadskaya Suspends Coal Production After Mine Fire

India will not mandate imported-coal blending at thermal power plants or require gas-based power generation this year, Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal told Moneycontrol, citing high fuel costs and a focus on domestic coal production and logistics. Coal stocks at thermal power plants fell to 18.6 million tonnes as of September 30, 2026, from 25.4 million tonnes at the beginning of September. The government expects inventories to recover over the following two weeks as supply disruptions ease. It has also directed captive power plants to offer surplus electricity to the grid.

Russian coal shipments to China fell 10.8% year on year to 53.15 million tonnes in January-August 2026, despite discounts of around 10%, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service. Higher logistics costs and import tariffs of 3%-6% have weakened Russia’s competitiveness. Over the same period, Chinese coal imports from Mongolia rose 48.9% to 78.39 million tonnes, while Indonesian supplies reached 121 million tonnes. Russian coking coal exports to Türkiye also fell 30% year on year in January-July

Pakistan inaugurated Phase III of the Thar Coal Block II project on October 5, raising the mine’s annual production capacity from 7.6 million tonnes to 11.2 million tonnes, according to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The 3.6 million-tonne annual capacity increase will enable Lucky Electric Power Company’s 660 MW plant to fully switch from imported coal to Thar coal. The expansion is expected to reduce Pakistan’s reliance on imported fuel and save around $220 million in foreign exchange annually.