Why India Has Coal Surplus Yet Still Imports Coal For Power? | How India's Economy Works | The Core

Описание: In this episode, journalist Puja Mehra speaks with Subhomoy Bhattacharjee, Journalist and Contributing Editor at Business Standard, about the paradox at the heart of India’s coal economy—why the country is sitting on large coal stocks even as it continues to import coal for power generation. They discuss how India’s transition from coal shortages to apparent surplus masks deeper structural problems in production, transportation, pricing, and quality.

Drawing on recent data and policy decisions, Bhattacharjee explains why domestically mined coal often fails to reach power plants economically, how high rail freight costs and geographic mismatches distort supply, and why many plants prefer imported coal despite higher headline prices. The conversation also examines the opening up of coal mining to private players, the weakening of Coal India’s monopoly, and the push towards market-driven coal pricing through proposed coal exchanges.

The discussion concludes by looking ahead to India’s energy future, assessing whether coal consumption has peaked, how rising electricity demand from data centres and the AI economy could reshape power needs, and why coal is likely to remain central to India’s power mix for years to come. Tune in for insights on what India’s coal surplus reveals about infrastructure bottlenecks, market design, and energy policy.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to India’s Coal Economy
02:00 The Coal Surplus Puzzle
04:00 Why Coal Isn’t Reaching Plants
06:30 Transport Costs and Rail Bottlenecks
09:00 Imported Coal vs Domestic Coal
11:30 Why Plants Aren’t Near Mines
14:00 Pollution and Poor Plant Location
16:30 Private Miners and Rising Production
18:30 Can Coal India Adapt
21:00 Coal India’s Financial Health
23:30 Employees and Market Transition
26:00 Coal Pricing and Linkages
28:00 Has India’s Coal Use Peaked
30:30 AI, Data Centres and Power Demand
33:00 Global Coal Demand Outlook
35:30 Nuclear Power and the Future

India has a coal surplus yet continues to import coal for power. This episode of The Core explains why India’s coal economy does not work as it appears. From coal production and transport bottlenecks to rail costs, pricing, and power plant locations, the discussion reveals how structural flaws shape India’s energy policy and economy. Watch to understand what this means for power, growth, and India’s energy future.

#IndiaCoal #CoalImports #EnergyPolicy #IndianEconomy #HowIndiasEconomyWorks #TheCore

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