(a) the utility of importing the high quality coal from the foreign countries;
(b) whether the type of coal imported from foreign countries is not available in the country;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(d) the target of importing high quality coal from foreign countries; and
(e) the extent to which this target has been fulfilled during the current financial year?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, POWER AND NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a)to(e):The overall production of coking and non-coking coal falls short of the demand for coal in the country at this juncture of time. Accordingly, coal is being imported by consuming sectors including power, cement, steel etc. Import of coal is on Open General License (OGL). Consumers are free to import coal as per their requirement from the source of their choice at their contracted price on payment of applicable duty.During the year 2013-14 a total quantity of 168.4 Mte.of coal was imported and during the year 2014-15 (April-December, 2014), 156.35 Mte. of coal has been imported into India.