India Cuts Coal Imports by 8 per cent, Saves Rs 660 Billion

28 May 2025 CW Team

India’s coal imports fell by 7.9 per cent in the financial year 2024–25, totalling 243.62 million tonnes compared to 264.53 million tonnes in the previous year. This decline resulted in foreign exchange savings of approximately $7.93 billion (around Rs 606.8 billion), reflecting a concerted national push toward coal self-sufficiency.

The Non-Regulated Sector—excluding the power sector—recorded an even sharper drop of 8.95 per cent year-on-year. While coal-based power generation rose by 3.04 per cent, coal imports for blending in thermal power plants decreased significantly by 41.4 per cent, highlighting India's improved domestic availability.

This shift is the result of sustained efforts by the Government of India to enhance indigenous production through initiatives like Commercial Coal Mining and Mission Coking Coal, which collectively contributed to a 5 per cent growth in domestic output during the year.

Coal remains a cornerstone of India’s energy mix, powering industries such as electricity, steel, and cement. Yet, supply gaps in coking coal and high-grade thermal coal have historically necessitated reliance on imports. The Ministry of Coal continues to implement strategic reforms to minimise this dependence and secure long-term energy resilience.

By prioritising domestic resource development and aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat, India is progressively building a self-reliant, sustainable energy ecosystem to support robust economic growth.

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