New Delhi, Feb. 21 -- India's plan to scale up crude steel capacity to 300 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2030 could heighten its dependence on imported metallurgical (met) coal, with about 90 percent of current requirements met through overseas supplies, according to a recent report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

Despite efforts to raise domestic coal output, much of the new steel capacity is being developed through the coal-intensive blast furnace route. IEEFA said 182 mtpa of upcoming BF capacity could require an additional 140 mtpa of metallurgical coal, increasing India's exposure to global price swings and supply risks.

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