India’s coal imports down 8.4% in April to December 2024

Thermal power plant blending imports fell by 29.8%.

India’s coal imports from April to December 2024 reached 183.42 million tonnes (MT), falling 8.4% from the same period last year.

According to the Ministry of Coal,  imports for blending by thermal power plants decreased by 29.8% despite coal-based power generation growing by 3.53%. This reflects “ongoing efforts to reduce its dependence on imported coal and enhance self-sufficiency in coal production.”

The overall reduction resulted in foreign exchange savings of approximately $5.43 billion.

The Government of India has implemented several initiatives, including Commercial Coal Mining and Mission Coking Coal, to enhance domestic coal production and reduce imports. These efforts have led to a 6.11% growth in coal output from April to December 2024.