Indian power utilities imported around 12.3 million mt of thermal coal in April-May, down 19.6% from the corresponding months last year, according to the latest data released by the Central Electricity Authority.
Of the total, 4.4 million mt was imported by 25 utilities for blending with domestic coal while 7.9 million mt was imported by nine utilities for plants based on imported coal.
The data also showed 19 utilities did not import any coal in the first two months of the current 2016-17 fiscal year.
Adani Power imported the highest volume at around 2.6 million mt, followed by Tata's Mundra ultra mega power plant at 1.6 million mt.
On a monthly basis, utilities imported 6.2 million mt of coal in May, down 12.7% from the same month a year ago.
Unlike previous years, the CEA has not set any targets for utilities for the current fiscal year because of an abundance of supply of domestic coal from state-run miner Coal India Limited (CIL).
There is so much domestic coal available that the coal ministry has asked state-run utilities to stop importing coal.
From having a shortage previously, the coal ministry is now facing a situation where it has few takers for the 550 million mt of coal stocks, Coal Secretary Anil Swarup was quoted as saying in a statement Friday.
He said all states should immediately consider halting coal imports and instead take what he described as good quality coal from CIL.
Utilities imported around 80.47 million mt of steam coal in fiscal 2015-16, down 11.8% year on year, below the target of 84 million mt. While 36.98 million mt was imported for blending, 43.49 million mt was imported for plants based on imported coal.
