India asks utilities to import 6% of their coal for nine months

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's power ministry has asked utilities to import 6% of their coal requirement until September, according to a letter seen by Reuters, warning that domestic supplies could be curtailed if import targets are not met.

Coal accounts for more than 70% of India's power generation, with coal-fired plants accounting for more than three quarters of India's use of the polluting fuel.

(Reporting by Sarita Chaganti Singh; Writing by Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by David Goodman)