KOLKATA: State-owned power plants imported around 12 million tonne of coal during 2016-17, less than a quarter of the volume imported in the previous fiscal and far less than the anticipated 25 million tonne expected during the year.This year, it is expected to turn zero as these companies have decided to stop imports. According to figures compiled by the Central Electricity Authority , the state sector power companies imported around 7 million tonne during 2016-17 while the central sector generators imported around 5 million tonne.“It was the effect of adequate availability of coal from Coal India and the government’s thrust on reducing import dependency,” said an analyst.Jayanta Roy, senior vice president at ICRA, said: “In 2017-18, imports for power plants are expected to fall further as Coal India is favourably placed to cater to increased demand. Reduction in imports in 2016-17 has been the result of three main developments. It included less than anticipated demand for power resulting in lesser power generation. It translated into lower coal offtake and substantial stock accretion at plants and at pitheads. This prompted Coal India to cut back production. In the absence of any constraint on supplies, Coal India is better placed to cater to demand rise, if any, this year.”Nevertheless, the private sector power generators imported substantial volume of coal, around 54 million tonne during the year, of which around 9 million tonne by independent power producers were for blending with domestic coal, while the rest at 45 million tonne were by power plants built to consume imported coal. Bulk of the coal by private power companies was imported by Adani for its Mundra facilities . It imported close to 36 million tonne last year.