Coal shortage sends prices soaring

INDIA yesterday warned that up to half of its 135 coal-fired power plants, which serve more than 1.3 billion people, could go offline in just three days.

The crisis has already seen the lights go out in some northern and eastern states and there are fears that the capital Delhi may be next, threatening power cuts for its 20 million residents.

A global shortage of coal has combined with a surge in demand from heavy industries as the economy picked up, driving prices up and catching power producers off guard.