India's coal imports in the April-October timeframe of the financial year 2024-25 saw a significant drop of 3.1 percent, totaling 149.39 million tonnes (MT) versus 154.17 MT during the same period last year, according to the Coal Ministry. Moreover, the ministry noted that the state non-regulated sector (excluding power) experienced a larger decline of 8.8 percent during Apr-Oct'24 when contrasted with the same timeframe from the previous year.

Highlighting the increase in coal-based electricity production, the ministry noted that while there was a notable rise of 3.87 percent in coal-based generation from April 2024 to October 2024 compared to the previous year, imports for blending by thermal power stations fell significantly by 19.5 percent in the same timeframe.

"India, despite possessing the fifth-largest coal reserves globally, faces a significant shortfall in certain coal types, particularly coking coal and high-grade thermal coal, which are not adequately available from domestic sources. This gap in supply necessitates coal imports to sustain key industries, including steel production, and to meet the growing energy demand," the Coal Ministry added in a release.

Additionally, coal output in the April-October 2024 timeframe showed a notable rise, achieving 537.57 MT versus 506.93 MT in the corresponding period of FY 2023-24, indicating a growth of 6.04 percent. This increasing trend indicates the government's continuous initiatives to optimize coal consumption and boost local production, the ministry noted.