Key facts
- India's coal demand is expected to reach 1.6 billion tons by 2030.
- Current coal demand in India is approximately 1.2 billion tons.
- The increase is attributed to higher electricity generation and industrial activity.
- India plans to establish a coal trade exchange to improve transparency.
- Coal constitutes about 60% of India's electricity generation.
India's coal demand is anticipated to surge to 1.6 billion tons by 2030, an increase from the current approximately 1.2 billion tons, driven by escalating electricity generation and industrial activity, Indian Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt stated on Friday.
As the world's second-largest coal consumer, India intends to launch a coal trade exchange to foster market transparency and bolster energy security. Dutt explained that this exchange would create a clear marketplace for buyers and sellers, potentially paving the way for a coal derivatives market in the future. He noted that the country has transitioned from a scarcity to a surplus scenario, highlighting the need for more efficient and market-driven coal trade mechanisms.