The potential shift marks a departure from the nation's two-year strategy of prioritizing domestic production to minimize import reliance. Persistent transportation challenges and record-breaking power demand have drained inventories faster than anticipated, leaving 74 facilities with less than three days of coal reserves as of late September. While officials maintain that total supply remains sufficient, the operational strain caused by the current El Niño cycle has exacerbated the inventory crisis.

Energy experts predict a 4.2% surge in total coal consumption this year, pushing annual demand to 1.353 billion tons. This projected increase, highlighted in the International Energy Agency’s latest mid-year assessment, reflects both the volatility of the global energy market and the internal struggle to distribute domestic fuel to the regions where it is most needed. If approved, the blending requirement would serve as an emergency buffer for a grid currently struggling to keep pace with industrial and residential consumption.