The government has estimated that
India's coal demand in 2011-12 will be
696 million tonnes, against which
domestic production will be only around
554 million tonnes. India is expected to
import 135 million tonnes and Coal India
Ltd is likely to add 28 million tonnes to the
coal availability by liquidating its stocks.
With this, India's coal demand-supply gap
will be in the region of 114 million tonnes.
Rising consumption has led to the coal
deficit steadily widening over the years. In
2008-09, coal deficit was pegged at 83
million tonnes.