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New Delhi [India] During the April 2024–February 2025 period, India imported 220.3 million tonnes (MT) of coal, a 9.2% decrease from the 242.6 MT imported during the same time in the previous fiscal year.

This substantial cut resulted in foreign currency savings of almost USD 6.93 billion (RS 53,137.82 crore), the Coal Ministry stated, marking a significant step toward energy independence.

The Ministry claims that the Non-Regulated Sector had the biggest decline, with imports declining 15.3% annually.

Notably, imports for blending by thermal power plants fell by about 39% even as coal-based power output increased by 2.87 percent, highlighting the nation’s determined efforts to reduce its reliance on imported coal.

To increase local coal output and lower imports, the Indian government has launched a number of programs, such as Mission Coking Coal and Commercial Coal Mining. Additionally, as a result of these efforts, coal production increased by an optimistic 5.45% between April 2024 and February 2025 as compared to the same time in FY 2023–2024.

India’s coal sector plays a pivotal role in supporting its rapidly growing economy, with coal serving as a primary energy source for critical industries like power, steel, cement etc.

However, the nation has a difficult time supplying its own domestic coal needs, particularly for high-grade thermal coal and coking coal, which are scarce in the nation’s reserves. Importing coal has thus been essential to supplying the demands of important industries, such as steel.

In line with India’s objectives of lowering coal imports and improving energy security, the Ministry of Coal has been putting strategic plans into place to boost local production and guarantee a steady supply of coal.

The Coal Ministry also said that by giving domestic coal production first priority, the government hopes to further the Viksit Bharat objective by creating a self-sufficient, sustainable energy framework that fosters long-term economic development.