New Delhi, Nov 12 (PTI) Coal imports rose 2.2 percent to 111.20 million tonnes in the April-August period of the current fiscal as against 108.81 million tonnes in the same period a year ago, an official release said on Tuesday. However, the non-regulated sector witnessed a decline of 10.3 per cent during the April-August period as compared to the same period last year, the Coal Ministry said in the release. In value terms, the total imported coal during April-August 2024-25 was worth Rs 120,532.21 crore. Despite a 4.97 percent increase in coal-based power generation from April to September 2024 over the same period last year, imports for blending purposes drop to 9.79 MT from 10.70 MT during the same period last year, showing decrease of 8.5 percent.
“This decline underlines India’s firm commitment to achieve self-sufficiency in coal production and reduce dependence on imports,” it said.
The increase in coal imports for the power sector is attributed to coal imports by imported thermal power plants (designed to use only imported coal), i.e., 26.14 MT during this period, up from 17.07 MT in the same time period last year, a growth of 53.1 per cent.
The steps taken by the government to increase domestic coal production will ultimately reduce dependence on imports and contribute to the overall sustainability of India’s energy landscape.