Excellent monsoon helps reduce India’s coal imports
28 Dec 2010
India's coal imports for power generation may be 24 per cent less than estimated by the country's Planning Commission after plentiful rainfall boosted hydroelectricity generation, reducing coal-based demand.
The rainfall this year has been the most in three years.
According to Planning Commission authorities, the country may import 34-35 million tonnes of thermal coal in the year ending 31 March as against the forecast 45 million tonnes.
The Planning Commission sets growth and investment targets in India.
In an interview, IA Khan, a joint adviser at the Commission, said, ''Hydro power generation so far this year has been above normal due to good monsoons. That has taken the load off coal substantially.''
More than half of India's power plants are fired by coal and demand for the fuel, according to government estimates, may more than triple to 2 billion tonnes over the next two decades.
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