India’s coal imports fell by 8.4% to 183.42 MT in April-December 2024, saving $5.43 billion in foreign exchange.

Coal imports declined to 183.42 million tonnes (MT) between April and December 2024, down 8.4% from 200.19 MT in the same period of FY 2023-24. This reduction resulted in foreign exchange savings of approximately $5.43 billion (₹42,315.7 crore). The Non-Regulated Sector, excluding power, saw a sharper decline of 12.01%.

Despite a 3.53% rise in coal-based power generation, imports for blending by thermal power plants dropped significantly by 29.8%, reflecting India’s push for coal self-sufficiency. Government initiatives like Commercial Coal Mining and Mission Coking Coal contributed to a 6.11% increase in domestic coal production during the same period.

With coal as a key energy source, the government aims to reduce import dependency while securing supply for sectors like power, steel, and cement. Strengthening domestic production aligns with India’s vision of a self-reliant energy framework under the Viksit Bharat initiative.

Source: PIB