According to India's annual plan for the financial year 2010-11, India's overall coal demand has been estimated at 656.31 million metric tons, while the country's local coal availability is estimated at 572.37 million metric tons, said Indian Minister of State for Coal Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal.
Thus, India's coal supply deficit for the period in question stands approximately at 84 million metric tons, which is likely to be met through imports, according to the minister's statement.
Minister Jaiswal also stated that total inventory of coal resources in India as of April 1, 2010 was 276.81 billion metric tons. However, of these total reserves, reserves in the ‘proved' category accounted for only 39.67 percent.