New Delhi: India, world's third largest coal producer, may have to import about 76 million tonnes of the fuel by 2011-12 to meet just the domestic requirement as the gross demand within the country has been estimated to nearly double to 710 million tonnes.
The country may need to import 30-40 million tonnes of superior grade thermal coal and an additional 36 million tonnes of coking coal by 2011-12 to meet shortages; the Planning Commission projected in its approach paper for the 11th plan (2007-12).
These huge imports would be required despite the efforts of the state-run Coal India Ltd, which has embarked on an emergency expansion plan as part of efforts to increase production by more than 60 per cent during the 11th plan.
The plan panel observed that this "unprecedented" level of increase in output along with creation of necessary rail infrastructure for transportation of coal would be difficult to achieve and the country would have to increase imports.
Coal would remain the dominant commercial energy source with total demand across all sectors such as power, cement, steel and paper estimated to rise to about 710 million tonnes as against about 370 million tonnes in 2005-06.
Power sector alone would require about 503 million tonnes by 2011-12, when total installed electricity generation capacity is projected to increase to about 200,000 MW from 1,25,000 MW at present.
India has one of the largest reserves of coal and is the world's top coal producers after the US and China.
Proven coal reserves stand at around 92 billion tonnes, while total reserves are estimated at more than 240 billion tonnes.
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