The Union Government recently announced that coal-based power generation increased by 3.87% during the April-October period of the current fiscal year compared to the same period last year. The Coal Ministry highlighted this growth as a positive indicator of the sector’s performance.
Meanwhile, coal imports for blending purposes by thermal power plants decreased by 19.5% during the same period, reflecting India’s commitment to achieving self-sufficiency in coal production and reducing dependence on imports.
However, the ministry noted a 38.4% increase in coal imports for imported coal-based power plants, which are specifically designed to utilize imported coal. These imports rose to 30.04 million tonnes (MT) during April-October 2024, compared to 21.71 MT in the corresponding period last year.
Overall, coal imports during the April-October period declined by 3.1%, amounting to 149.39 MT compared to 154.17 MT in the same period last year.
The non-regulated sectors (excluding power) recorded a more significant drop in coal imports, decreasing by 8.8% during the April-October period compared to the same timeframe in the previous fiscal year.
The data underscores India’s efforts to boost domestic coal production and reduce reliance on imported coal, aligning with its broader energy self-sufficiency goals.
