Indian power utilities imported around 61.8 million mt of thermal coal over April-December, down 9.5% on year, according to latest data from India's Central Electricity Authority, or CEA.
Of the total volume, 28.7 million mt was imported by 35 utilities for blending with domestic coal, while 33.1 million mt was imported by eight utilities for power plants that used only imported coal.
Seven utilities did not import any coal during the first nine months of the current Indian fiscal year (April 2015-March 2016).
Private sector power company Adani Power imported the largest volume of thermal coal over April-December 2015 at around 12.7 million mt.
State-owned generator NTPC followed with 8.3 million mt, and Tata's Mundra ultra mega power project with around 6.9 million mt.
On a monthly basis, November imports reached 7.4 million mt, falling by 13% from the corresponding month a year ago.
Utilities in India are expected to import 84 million mt during the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2016.
Of the projected total, 42 million mt will be imported for blending with domestic coal, and an equal volume will go to those plants that run on imported coal only.
