Less coal needed with India’s higher hydro output

India’s higher output from hydropower generation will bring down coals imports by 24 per cent from previous estimates.

The high rainfall in the last three years is responsible for the higher hydropower output.


Indian Planning Commission joint adviser I A Khan said that the country may import 34 million to 35 million metric tons of coal in the year ending 31 March 2011, reported powertechnology.com.

Previous estimates by the commission in April 2010 had indicated 45 million tons of coal would be imported during the financial year.

Hydropower output had increased by 5.8 per cent to 83,235 million units in the eight months ending 30 November 2010, 0.5 per cent over the government's target, according to the Central Electricity Authority.