India's gas power generation plummets, worsening electricity supply shortage

Golden Ten Data reported on May 25 that, due to the disruption of fuel transportation caused by the conflict in Iran, India's gas-fired power generation has plummeted to its lowest level in at least six years. Meanwhile, the sweltering heat is pushing electricity demand to historic highs, exacerbating an already strained power supply situation. Last week, as temperatures soared, people switched on air conditioners and other cooling equipment, pushing India's peak electricity consumption to an unprecedented 270.8 GW, maintaining an upward trend for four consecutive days. Although daytime electricity demand has largely been met thanks to solar power generation, at night, when demand surges, the supply has struggled to keep up. According to data from India’s Ministry of Power, between April and May 21 this year, the country’s gas-fired power plants generated approximately 3.6 billion kWh, marking the lowest output for this period in at least six years. This output level is only about two-thirds of that during the same period last year and is just about half of the output for the same period in 2024.