Train crunch to spur coal imports

14 Apr 2023 CW Team

Due to a lack of trains, Indian businesses, including aluminium smelters and paper mills, are expected to increase thermal coal imports for a second year in a row, even as state-run Coal India seeks to enhance output.

Increased industrial demand for seaborne coal would stymie India's efforts to reduce its reliance on imports from mines in Indonesia, Australia, and South Africa, the world's second-largest producer and importer of the fuel.

As the world's No. 2 economy is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, which is supporting global prices, India's demand for seaborne coal is expected to peak during the summer season starting this month.

As a result, India's manufacturers will have to pay extra for both imported coal and transportation because the lack of trains has forced them to receive coal by truck, which is more expensive per tonne than by rail.

In 2022, most India's thermal coal imports came from industrial users.

Abhishek Rakshit, a senior analyst at consulting firm Wood Mackenzie, predicted that logistical difficulties might increase overall Indian thermal coal imports by 3% to 169 million tonnes in 2023. The price of low- to mid-calorific value coal will undoubtedly be supported by growth in Indian coal imports through the majority of 2023, according to Rakshit.

Resources

03 Jun 2026

Jyoti Structures Launches Heat Safety Drive Across Sites

Jyoti Structures (JSL) has strengthened heat safety measures across its project sites and manufacturing facilities as temperatures rise across India. The company has implemented a Summer Safety Plan covering all transmission line projects to address risks related to heat stress, dehydration and worker fatigue.The initiative includes rescheduling work away from peak afternoon temperatures, provision of drinking water, ORS and lemon-salt solutions, and installation of rest shelters near work areas. Daily toolbox talks, worker health monitoring, first-aid preparedness, emergency transport arrange..

MHADA Declares 82 Buildings Most Dangerous in Central and South Mumbai

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has declared 82 buildings as most dangerous across Central and South Mumbai and has appealed to residents to vacate immediately. The list, prepared after structural assessments by the authority, identifies buildings judged to pose imminent risk to occupants and to passersby. Local civic bodies have been asked to coordinate evacuations and to make arrangements for temporary shelter and rehabilitation for displaced households. Officials said the authority prioritised buildings with visible structural distress, severe cracking, tiltin..

Damage Reported At Halwara Airport Terminal After First Rains

Severe damage was reported at the terminal of Halwara Airport during the first major rain spell of the season, prompting immediate concern among aviation and local authorities. Images from the site showed water ingress and visible deterioration of the terminal interior, affecting passenger areas and ancillary services. The airport authority suspended certain operations temporarily to assess structural safety and ensure passenger wellbeing. Preliminary inspections have prioritised electrical systems and roof seals to prevent further water ingress. State aviation officials ordered a formal inqui..