The coal ministry is preparing a plan to cut imports of the fuel by at least a third over the next five years, counting on an increase in domestic production and a jump in renewable output, according to people familiar with the plan.
Imports are seen falling to below 150 million tonnes by the year ending March 2024, down from 235.2 million tonnes India got from overseas in the last fiscal year, the people said, asking not to be named as the five-year plan is still being finalised. To meet the import reduction goal, state miner Coal India Ltd. will aim to raise its annual output to 880 million tons by fiscal year 2024, a compounded annual growth of 7.7% through the period.
