India’s coal imports fell by 7.9 per cent in the financial year 2025, totalling 243.62 million tonnes (MT) as compared with the just-concluded financial year’s 264.53 MT. This helped the country save almost $9 billion ((Rs 60,681.67 crore), in forex, a statement by the coal ministry informed on Tuesday.
Although coal-based power generation grew by 3.04 per cent in 2024-25 compared to the previous fiscal year, imports for blending by thermal power plants sharply decreased by 41.4 per cent, the ministry added.
“This highlights India’s ongoing efforts to reduce its dependence on imported coal and enhance self-sufficiency in coal production,” the statement said.
Notably, the non-regulated sector, excluding the power sector, experienced a more significant decline, with imports dropping by 8.95 per cent year-on-year.
The government of India’s implementation of initiatives such as commercial coal mining and mission coking coal have also helped enhanced domestic coal production, resulting in the reduction of imports and a growth of almost 5 per cent in coal output in 2024-25.
India depends heavily on coal to meet the needs of its key sectors, such as steel, power, and cement. However, the country faces a significant challenge in meeting its domestic coal demand, especially for coking coal and high-grade thermal coal, which are in short supply within the country’s reserves.
“The ministry of coal has been implementing strategic measures to strengthen domestic production and ensure a secure coal supply, aligning with India’s goals of reducing coal imports and enhancing energy security. By prioritising domestic coal output, the government aims to march ahead towards the Viksit Bharat goal by building a self-reliant, sustainable energy framework that supports long-term economic growth,” the ministry added.
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