An official told media that India's petroleum coke imports could more than double this year as competitive prices push cement producers to switch to fuel as an alternative to coal.
Petcoke is more expensive than coal, but it produces more energy when burned. It is widely used by the cement industry, which is the largest consumer, because sulfur dioxide emissions are absorbed by limestone.
Global coal prices are at peak levels due to a supply shortage following the European Commission's decision to ban imports of coal from Russia after it invaded Ukraine.
Domestic coal deliveries to utilities to address a power crisis and increasing internal use of domestic petroleum coke by refineries are contributing to higher imports.