New Delhi, Aug. 11 -- Coal-based power plants in India have reduced their dependence on imported coal for blending, with imports falling 71.5 percent from 23.9 million tonnes in 2023-24 to 6.8 million tonnes in 2025-26, Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey said in the Rajya Sabha.

The decline has continued in the current financial year, with coal imports for blending standing at 1.7 million tonnes during April-June 2026-27, according to the data presented in the Upper House.

The minister said imports are primarily undertaken for coking coal required by the steel industry and high-grade thermal coal, where domestic availability remains limited due to scarce reserves or other supply constraints.

Coal Imports Decline ...