GST will make domestic coal cheaper, yet Indian thermal coal import will be 150 Mt – CEO, KATM at IHS European Coal Conference, France

29 May 2017

Mr. Amit Kumar, founding partner and CEO of KATM Technologies, the Gurgaon based company pioneered in Commodity i-Trade & i-Auction, represented India as a speaker at European Coal Conference held in Nice, France organized by IHS Markit on 23rd May 2017

While Speaking on New Drivers in Global Coal Market – The Indian Reforms, he discussed on World’s Real GDP Growth projections, Indian Growth Factors – steel & Power, India’s Primary Energy needs, India’s Growth Fuel-Coal, Sector-wise Coal Consumption and Demand, CIL – Target, Performance & Realistic Expectation, Indian Coal Sector – Reforms on Card, Drivers Affecting Indian Coal Industry, Indian Coal Sector Future Outlook, and Anuual Indian Coal Production and Imports,

He also discussed on the Major Policy Reforms In Indian Coal Sector viz New methodology for acquisition of coal blocks for various sectors via auction introduced in 2015, Use of washed coal in power plants which are more than 500 km from the source of coal, Clean Coal Tax (Carbon Tax) of INR 400 per tonne was introduced in 2016, Long term FSAs (Coal Linkages) also to be auctioned for various sectors like Power, Steel and Cement, New Steel Policy emphasizes Higher use of Domestic Coking Coal, UDAY Scheme to provide impetus to Power sector through debt restructuring of DISCOMS, FSA Coal Swaping by State Power Utilities, Zero Import Thrust by Govt to State Power plants and new Solar Power Tariffs in India vis a vis Thermal power tariffs.

Further, he discussed on Key Drivers for Coal Demand and Future Outlook –

1.   With the Kind of Government Targets & Policies, Coal Will Remain the Most Important Fuel

2.   Different Technologies to use Coal like CBM, CGP, CTL may change the perception of Coal Industry as Dirty Fuel, and

3.   Import – which will be there to meet the demand from Indian market

His opinion was highly appreciated by the attendees of the conference from across the globe. He was echoed by other Speakers for his perception and views about the Indian policy to help various segments of industries to know about Indian growth potential.