India asks coal mines owners to increase output in week's time

India has asked owners of coal mines that produce solely for their own use, known as "captive" mines, to increase output within a week as the government tries to address a shortage of coal at power stations amid rising electricity demand.

Industrial companies which own "captive" mines have been given a week to ramp up production to above 85% of existing targets, the federal power ministry said in a statement on Monday. It also gave utilities companies that buy power from plants run on imported coal two weeks to increase procurement.

Data from the Central Electricity Authority showed nearly two thirds of India's 135 coal-fired power plants had less than a week's supply of coal left, including 43 with fewer than three days left. Four plants had no coal as of Sunday.

India is the world's second-largest importer of coal despite having the fourth-largest reserves, and coal burning generates nearly three-quarters of the country's electricity demand. Power demand has risen as economic activity picks up due to the easing of coronavirus-related restrictions.