Sweeping rare heatwaves across India have driven the country's power demand to successive record highs.

India's peak power demand hit an all-time high of 256.1 GW on April 25, exceeding the previous day's reading of 252.08 GW, official and grid data showed. This showed mounting pressure on the energy system amid extreme weather.

New Delhi, India's capital, has been gripped by a severe heatwave, with temperatures reaching 42.8 degrees Celsius, the highest on record for April in recent years. India's weather authority has issued a yellow heat warning for surrounding regions.

To meet surging power loads, India ramped up output from coal- and gas-fired power plants. Grid data indicated the country's gas-fired power generation capacity has risen to around 9.6 GW, while coal-fired power capacity increased to roughly 187 GW.

India's leading power producer, NTPC Ltd., is procuring natural gas via India's gas exchange as required by grid dispatch orders to sustain stable unit operations.

The strongest El Nino event in a decade is forecast to bring hotter and drier weather across Asia, further lifting cooling power consumption. Indian authorities projected the country's peak power demand could reach about 270 GW this year, claiming sufficient capacity to meet the rising needs.

India has postponed scheduled maintenance for nearly 10 GW of coal-fired power units until July to maintain maximum coal-fired power output throughout the heat period. To secure stable summer power supply, the country is set to rely more heavily on coal.