India's Coal Imports Decrease as Local Production Grows
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New Delhi, Dec 19 (NationPress) India has experienced a 3.1 per cent reduction in coal imports, totaling 149.39 million tonnes (MT) during the April-October period of FY 2024-25, compared to 154.17 MT in the same timeframe last year. This decline is primarily due to a boost in domestic production, as highlighted in an official statement released on Thursday.
The Non-Regulated Sector (excluding power generation) saw an even sharper decline of 8.8 per cent during April-October 2024 compared to the previous year.
Despite having the fifth-largest coal reserves in the world, India encounters a notable deficit in specific coal varieties, especially coking coal and high-grade thermal coal, which are not sufficiently available from local sources.
This supply shortfall necessitates coal imports to support vital industries, including steel production, and to satisfy the increasing energy demand.
While there was a noteworthy growth of 3.87 per cent in coal-based power generation from April 2024 to October 2024 compared to the same period last year, imports for blending by thermal power plants saw a significant decrease of 19.5 per cent during the same timeframe, as reported by the Coal Ministry.
This reduction highlights India’s unwavering dedication to achieving self-sufficiency in coal production and diminishing reliance on imports, the statement elaborated.
The increase in coal imports for the power sector is linked to imported coal-based power plants, which are engineered to utilize only high-grade imported coal. Their imports surged to 30.04 MT during this period, up from 21.71 MT in the corresponding timeframe last year, marking a growth of 38.4 per cent.
Domestic coal production saw a rise of 6.04 per cent during April-October 2024, reaching 537.57 MT, up from 506.93 MT in the same period of FY 2023-24.
This positive trend underscores the government's persistent efforts to optimize coal utilization and boost domestic production, according to the statement.
The Ministry of Coal is actively implementing strategic initiatives designed to enhance coal production and improve its availability. These actions aim not only to protect foreign reserves but also to strengthen the nation’s energy security.
The proactive strategies undertaken by the government to elevate domestic coal output are expected to lessen dependency on imports and contribute to the overall sustainability of India's energy framework, the statement concluded.
