Indian power utilities imported 4.84 million mt steam coal in April, down 14.7% compared with the same month last year, according to latest data by the country's Central Electricity Authority.
Of the total, 1.08 million mt were imported for blending purpose while 3.76 million mt were imported by utilities which use only imported coal for their power plants, the data showed.
Out of the 1.08 million mt, around 0.73 million mt had been imported by four state-run utilities for their power stations to blend with domestic coal and the rest by three private power producers for blending.
Of the 3.76 million mt imported for power plants using imported coal, 0.15 million mt had been imported by one state-run utility while 3.61 million mt were imported by 10 private sector power utilities.
Fifty six utilities did not import any coal in the first month of the current fiscal year 2017-18.
Adani Power imported the highest quantity of coal at 1.32 million mt, followed by Tata's Mundra ultra mega power project at 0.69 million mt.
Due to adequate availability of domestic coal, the Indian government is aiming to reduce import dependency.
The government has recently formulated a new methodology for auctioning coal to private power producers having imported coal-fired plants.
Utilities had imported 65.12 million mt steam coal in fiscal year 2016-17, which ended March 31, down 19% year on year.
