The Indian cabinet on December 12 approved coal exports from power plants with excess coal stocks. Local media reported that this move paves the way for further Indian coal exports.
Xinhua News Agency reported that the new policy issued by the Indian cabinet that day stipulates that power plants with domestic coal quotas can export up to 50% of their quotas and can flexibly allocate coal among group companies.
The Indian cabinet also approved the widespread use of coal resources acquired through commercial auctions for industrial purposes. Previously, India only allowed such coal resources to be used in specific manufacturing sectors such as cement and steel.
The report stated that India's coal production has been rising steadily in recent years, reaching 1.05 billion tons in the 2024-2025 fiscal year and is projected to reach 1.5 billion tons by the 2029-2030 fiscal year. Ashvini Vaishnaw, India's Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology, stated that coal stocks at the country's coal-fired power plants are at "historic high levels."
As the world's second-largest coal producer, India has been working to open up the industry in order to meet rising energy demand and reduce its reliance on imports.
