Coal India Limited (CIL), the largest coal producer in India, reported a 9.7% decrease in coal production, totaling 56.1 million tonnes in April. This decline raises concerns about the ability to meet the country's surging energy demands, particularly as coal accounts for over 70% of India's electricity generation. The production shortfall could strain supplies to thermal power plants and industries, potentially increasing reliance on imported coal. CIL's sales, or offtake, also fell by 2% to 63.2 million tonnes compared to 64.5 million tonnes the previous year. The drop in production comes at a time when peak power demand soared to 255.85 GW, driven by intense heatwave conditions across northern, central, and western India. This demand surge is attributed to increased use of cooling appliances as users seek relief from the heat. CIL's overall production for the fiscal year 2025-26 decreased by 1.7% to 768.1 million tonnes, compared to 781.1 million tonnes in the previous fiscal year.