core sector communique

The Demand of Coal is Estimated 650 Million Tonnes 

The requirement of coal for power utilities for XII Plan period has been estimated on the basis of the demand of power forecast by the 17th Electric Power Survey (EPS) Report of Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The report predicts likely power demand of 1392 Billion Units in 2016-17. If coal based thermal power plants continue to meet 70% of the power requirement of the Country, coal based generation would be around 974 Billion Units, for which requirement of coal would be around 682 Million Tonnes if specific coal consumption remains at 0.70 Kg/Unit. 

 As per the revised estimate, the demand of coal in the Country in the terminal year(TY) of XI plan will be around 650 million tonnes against which indigenous availability would be around 545 million tonnes, leaving a gap of 105 million tonnes to be met through import. The demand is projected to increase to 980.5 million tonnes in the TY of XII Plan against which indigenous availability is projected to be 715 million tonne. The availability may increase to 795 million tonnes at the maximum, subject to availability of requisite land for coal mining and all clearances in time. Therefore, the gap between the demand and indigenous availability is projected to be in the range of 185.5 million tonnes in the minimum to 265.5 million tonnes in the maximum. This gap is to be bridged by import of coal. 

 This information was given by the Minister of State of Coal, Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.