India imported coal worth Rs 1.7 lakh crores in FY’19

Coal Minister, Shri Pralhad Joshi, informed the Parliament that India imported 235.2 million tons (MT) of coal in 2018-19 valued at Rs 1.7 lakh crore in FY’19. During the previous fiscal year,  the country imported 208.2 MT of the dry fuel valued at Rs 1.3 lakh crore and 190.9 MT of coal valued at Rs 1 lakh crore in 2016-17.

The limited availability of coking coal in the country, which is an essential input for steel making, is the reason amounting to the staggering coal imports. It is also a key raw material for power plants designed on low ash imported coal.