Coal powers more than half of India’s electricity plants and demand for the commodity is expected to rise sharply as the third-largest Asian economy expands at a fast clip.

New steel and cement industries coming up in India are also hungry for the ‘black gold’, pushing up its imports.

Here are some facts, projections and issues surrounding India’s coal industry:

Basic facts

India produced 492.95 million tonnes of coal in 2008/09, up 7.8% from 457.08 million tonnes in the previous year.

Imports of coal were 59 million tonnes in 2008/09, against 49.7 million tonnes in the previous year.

Coking coal, used mainly in steel, is mostly imported from Australia.
Non-coking coal that is consumed by power and cement is imported from
Indonesia and South Africa.

There are 556 coal mines in India, mostly owned by the government and
located primarily in east and south central regions of the country.

State-owned Coal India Ltd, with its 7 subsidiaries, is the largest miner holding 75% of India’s coal market.

Projections, Issues

India’s coal production is expected to reach 675 million tonnes by 2012, with 459 million tonnes available for power firms.

Coal imports will continue to get bigger with acquisitions and
collaborations seen with coal mines in Australia, Indonesia and
Mozambique.

Import requirement is seen at 135 million tonnes by 2012, but it may be
hampered by congested ports and problems of rail linkages from ports to
plants.

Source: Ministry of Coal, Coal India Ltd, Karvy Stock Broking.

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• S. Africa exported 5.45 million tons of coal in July

    South Africa exported around 5.45 million tonnes of thermal coal in July, little changed from 5.54 in June, bringing the year-to-date total to 33.45 million, coal industry sources said. Based on the monthly figures, South Africa’s 2009 coal exports are unlikely to exceed 60 million tonnes, down from last year’s 67

• Coal India 2010/11 imported coal directly to the

    Coal imports by state-run Coal India Ltd are likely to soar to 6-10 million tonnes in fiscal 2010/11 from an expected 1.5-1.7 million tonnes in the current fiscal year, D.C. Garg, chairman of the company’s subsidiary Western Coalfields Ltd told Reuters. The country’s demand for coal is rising, particularly from

• Maharashtra is 3.35 million t of coal imports

    Maharashtra is seeking 3.35 million tonnes of imported coal from any origin for five power plants, Indian traders participating in the tender said. The re-emergence of India’s state utilities as coal importers, buying multi-origin coal against a basket of indices is likely to become a key global coal price-driver this

• Maharashtra is 3.35 million tonnes of coal imports

    Maharashtra is seeking 3.35 million tonnes of imported coal from any origin for five power plants, Indian traders participating in the tender said. The re-emergence of India’s state utilities as coal importers, buying multi-origin coal against a basket of indices is likely to become a key global coal price-driver this

• India imported 1.4 million t of coal in September S. Africa

    India imported 1.4 million tonnes of coal from South Africa’s Richards Bay Coal Terminal in September, up from 1.3 million in August. India has been the biggest single buyer of South African coal throughout this year, having taken 22-35 percent of monthly exports. India’s absorption of around one-third of South Africa’s

• India imported 1.4 million t of coal in September S. Africa

    India imported 1.4 million tonnes of coal from South Africa’s Richards Bay Coal Terminal in September, up from 1.3 million in August. India has been the biggest single buyer of South African coal throughout this year, having taken 22-35 percent of monthly exports. India’s absorption of around one-third of South Africa’s

• India s coal reserves to run out in 45 years

    Debunking a myth that India had usable coal reserves that would last 200 years, a report from a non-government energy think tank says the country is likely to run out of usable coal reserves in about 45 years. Pointing out that the government itself has downgraded its estimation of useful

• Indias coal reserves to run out in 45 years

    Debunking a myth that India had usable coal reserves that would last 200 years, a report from a non-government energy think tank says the country is likely to run out of usable coal reserves in about 45 years.

• India s MMTC issues tender to import coking coal

    India’s state-run trading company MMTC Ltd has issued a tender on Thursday for importing 50,000-70,000 tonnes per month of coking coal in June and July, the company website showed.

• India coal ports, ships and monsoon effect

    India is one of the world’s fastest-growing coal importers and this year accounted for more than a third of South Africa’s exports.? India’s booming demand for coal to use in power generation and cement and sponge iron production cannot be met by domestic supply.?Its total thermal coal imports are