India's coal use rises amid heatwaves and costly LNG, keeping coal dominant despite renewable growth.

India's coal-fired power generation increased in April due to a nationwide heatwave and higher liquified natural gas (LNG) prices, which made gas-fired power less competitive. Despite more than half of India's power capacity coming from renewable sources, coal remains the primary energy source, accounting for over 70% of electricity generation. The heatwave raised electricity demand, pushing coal use higher, while disruptions in petroleum coke supply also led industries like cement to rely more on coal. India aims to reduce emissions intensity by 47% by 2035 and reach net-zero by 2070, but coal demand is expected to grow if heatwave conditions persist or El Niño develops.