(a) the quantity and value of coal exported and imported of coal during each of the last three years country-wise;
(b) whether any State Governments have sought permission from the Union Government to import coal for their power plants;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the present status thereof; and
(d) the details of the percentage of ash contents in domestic and imported coal?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, POWER AND NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL )
(a)to(c): Details of country-wise, quantity-wise, year-wise including the value of coal imported /exported during the last three years are given in Annexure. The price of imported coal depends on specific grades imported by individual parties and on the terms of contracts and are not set by the Government.
As per the current import policy, coal is under Open General Licence (OGL) and can be freely imported on payment of applicable import duty.
(d): As gathered from secondary sources, imported varieties of coal have lower ash content, mostly not exceeding 15% as compared to indigenous coal having larger ash content, even exceeding 40% in some cases.