Improved coal base generation adding to optimism on Coal India With the rally in commodity stocks, Coal India Ltd, the country’s largest coal producer and supplier, too, is seeing stock prices rebound. Adding to its gains of more than 7% on Monday, the stock saw intraday gains of about 5% in morning trades on Tuesday. Strong demand and rising realizations for commodities such as steel, aluminium, cement and others bode well for coal demand and realizations. Rebound in demand from the power sector, though, provides the silver lining. Power demand remains crucial for Coal India’s volumes as the majority of supplies under fuel supply agreement (FSA) are directed towards thermal power plants in the country. It was the reduced inventory and lower plant load factor (PLF) of power plants that had meant a weak volume outlook for Coal India.