NEW DELHI: Indian power utilities imported about 54.4 million mt of thermal coal during the April-November period, down 8.8% from the same period last year, according to latest data from India’s Central Electricity Authority, or CEA.
Of the total quantity, 25.3 million mt was imported by 34 utilities for blending with domestic coal, while 29.1 million mt was imported by eight utilities for power plants that used only imported coal. Seven utilities did not import any coal during the first eight months of the current Indian fiscal year.
Private sector power company Adani Power imported the largest volume of thermal coal during the April-November period at around 11.5 million mt. State-owned generator NTPC followed with 7.7 million mt, and Tata’s Mundra ultra mega power project at around 6.2 million mt.
On a monthly basis, November imports reached 6.3 million mt, falling by 23% from the corresponding month a year ago. Utilities in India are expected to import 84 million mt during the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, according to the CEA. Of the projected total, 42 million mt will be imported for blending with domestic coal, and an equal amount will go to those plants that run on imported coal only.