India could import about 114
million tons of coal in 2011-12, up by over a third from the previous year,
mainly from Indonesia and South Africa to help prevent power stations and
factories in Asia's third-largest economy from slowing down.
“India's coal demand was seen at
696 million tons in 2011-12 against an expected local output of 554 million tons.
State-run Coal India, the world's largest coal miner, has stocks of about 28
million tons, reducing the overall shortfall.” Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal
said. “However, stock liquidation is subject to availability of (rail wagons).
Measures proposed to step up production are subject to different statutory
approvals and availability of land,” he added
India is home to 10 percent of
the world's coal reserves, trailing only the United States, Russia and China,
but a shortfall from local supplies has grown rapidly with an increase in
coal-fired power plants and steel makers.
Domestic output has been crimped
by hurdles over environmental clearances and land acquisition, as well as low
investment, forcing sharp downward revisions of output targets that could drag
on India's nine percent growth plans.
India bought about 82 million tons
of coal in 2010-11, government data, which is often slow to compile, showed.
The Indian coal industry puts that figure at about 102 million tons, including
some 70 million tons of thermal variety.
It was not clear how much of
2011-12 imports could consist of the costlier coking coal.
“We are aware that coal is
the mainstay of India's energy needs and our dependence on the same is likely
to continue for quite some time.”
Jaiswal said a concerted effort
to remove regulatory hurdles could help boost India's coal output by 7-8
percent in 2011-12, though the country would remain a major importer.
Coal accounts for more than 60
percent of India's energy use and, despite a push to use greener forms of fuel,
the country will depend on it to reduce black-outs and halve its peak-hour
power deficit of nearly 14 percent.
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