New Delhi: The import of coal for blending purpose by domestic coal-based power plants has declined 8.59 percent, falling from 10.71 Million Tonnes (MT) to 9.79 MT in April-September period year-on-year, said the Ministry of Coal on Wednesday. The ministry added that import of coal (thermal grade) by the non-regulated sector (NRS) has also gone down by 9.83 percent, dropping from 70.18 MT to 63.28 MT during the same period on year-on-year basis. “This demonstrates an increased reliance on domestic coal supplies for these sectors… The Ministry of Coal remains committed to reducing dependency on imported coal where feasible, by ramping up domestic production and streamlining logistics,” said the ministry.
The ministry said that there has been a rise in the import of coking coal, essential for the steel industry, and coal for imported coal-based (ICB) power plants, which are not substitutable by domestic coal. However, it did not mention the figures for the two categories of coal import. “The overall coal imports during April-September 2024 increased marginally by 1.36 percent, reaching 129.52 MT compared to 127.78 MT in the corresponding period of the previous year,” it said.
In terms of value, overall imported coal during April-September 2024-25 stands at Rs 1,38,763.50 crore, a decrease from Rs 1,52,392.23 crore during the same period last year. This reduction has resulted in huge savings of Rs. 13,628.73 crore, demonstrating a more cost-effective approach to coal procurement, said the ministry.
“The Ministry reiterates its focus on ensuring energy security and cost efficiency while advancing towards the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The commitment to energy security and economic efficiency remains paramount as we move forward,” it added.
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