Coal India may need to import nearly 15 million tonne coal in 2013-14 to meet the shortfall in domestic coal supplies. This follows the government decision on April 22 that allowed the miner to fill the gap between domestic supplies and annual contracted quantity to power stations by imports.

The exact volumes to be imported would depend on demand from power stations, which is reviewed every quarter. Since the government has also kept the window open for power companies to import by themselves, Coal India would seek their view, said S Narsing Rao, Chairman and Managing Director, Coal India (CIL).

Rao said the company would appoint a Government agency to import on its behalf in the current financial year. May be from next year, CIL may look at importing on its own, he added.