North News
New Delhi, January 14
India’s coal sector, crucial for its expanding economy, faces challenges in meeting domestic demand, particularly for coking coal and high-grade thermal coal. Consequently, imports remain vital for industries like steel production. In the first seven months of FY 2024-25 (April-October), coal imports fell 3.1%, totaling 149.39 million tonnes (MT), compared to 154.17 MT in the same period last year. The non-regulated sector, excluding the power industry, experienced a steeper decline, with imports dropping 8.8% year-on-year, the Coal Ministry said.
While coal-based power generation grew 3.87% from April to October 2024, coal imports for blending by thermal power plants decreased sharply by 19.5%. This drop reflects India’s efforts to reduce import dependency and increase domestic coal production. Coal output saw a 6.04% increase, reaching 537.57 MT in the April-October 2024 period, up from 506.93 MT in the same period of FY 2023-24. The Ministry of Coal is prioritizing measures to enhance production and strengthen energy security.
