Overview

• Coal imports fell to 220.3 million tonnes from April 2024 to February 2025, a 9.2% decline compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year.
• This reduction in imports saved India $6.93 billion in foreign exchange, advancing energy self-reliance goals under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• Domestic coal output increased by 5.45%, driven by policies like Commercial Coal Mining and the Mission Coking Coal initiative.
• The non-regulated sector saw a 15.3% drop in coal imports, while blending imports for thermal power plants plunged 38.8%, despite a 2.87% rise in coal-based power generation.
• India continues to rely on imports for coking coal and high-grade thermal coal, essential for industries like steel, cement, and power generation.