India braces for record electricity demand amid heatwave, risking wheat crop damage

India is expected to experience hotter-than-usual weather from April to June, potentially leading to water shortages and increased strain on the power network due to the use of air conditioners. This comes after a warmer-than-normal March, which could impact wheat crop production and may result in the government considering a reduction or removal of the 40% import duty on food grain. The government is also preparing for a record peak electricity demand this summer, with efforts to ensure adequate coal stockpiles and distribution of power. Additionally, there may be an increase in demand for diesel as people seek refuge from the heat in cooler areas.

Most parts of India will witness hotter-than-usual weather through June, raising the risk of water shortages and more strain on the power network as people turn to air conditioners to find reprieve from searing heat. Several areas in the country were likely to experience more heatwave days than normal during the three months through June, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of the India Meteorological Department, said in New Delhi on Monday. Maximum temperatures were likely to be higher than normal in April, too, he said. The prediction follows a warmer-than-normal March, raising the risk of some damage to wheat crops that are being harvested now. Any decline in production could prompt the government to cut or scrap the 40 per cent import duty on the food grain. India has curbed exports since 2022 when the hottest March in more than a century hit output and forced the government to introduce restrictions to control food prices. Policymakers are bracing for a record peak ...