American coal exports to India have surged, linking Appalachian mines to Indian industries but imposing heavy environmental and health costs on local residents. In Baltimore, coal dust from export terminals exacerbates respiratory illnesses, while in Ennore, India, imported coal pollutes fishing villages and destroys livelihoods. This trade route underscores the global tensions between fossil fuel dependency and community well-being.
The trade in US coal to India has expanded significantly over the past five years, with nearly a quarter of America's overseas coal shipments last year destined for Indian power, steel, and cement sectors. Facing declining domestic demand—down by half since 2008 and projected to near zero in two decades—US coal producers have pivoted to exports, reaching a six-year high. A quarter of all mined coal now leaves the country, often through Baltimore's terminals operated by CSX and Core Natural Resources, which handle 30 percent of US exports.
In Baltimore's Curtis Bay neighborhood, residents like David Jones endure coal dust from nearby piles, contributing to high asthma rates and chronic respiratory diseases, as confirmed by a Johns Hopkins study. Jones, a highway maintenance worker, fears for his health: “My life is going to be cut short because of this.” A December 2021 explosion at the CSX terminal blanketed homes in dust over a 12-block area. Environmental organizer Greg Sawtell described locals as “unpaid employees of CSX,” facing cleanup costs and medical bills without compensation.
On the other side, in Ennore near Chennai, fisherman Panner Selvam has seen his village displaced since the late 1980s for coal infrastructure. Three state-run power plants fed by Kamarajar Port release pollutants, causing widespread asthma and skin issues. Hot wastewater and fly ash devastate fish stocks, making fishing untenable. “Fishing is disappearing,” Panner said, doubting he can pass his trade to his children. Activist Vaishnavi P. called the area “unfit for somebody to live.”
India imports about 11 percent of its coal from the US, serving as a swing supplier when prices rise. Despite government pledges to phase out imports, expansions continue, including new berths at Kamarajar Port. Protests in both locations highlight the human cost, with anthropologist Nicole Fabricant labeling coal exports a “multilayered injustice” tied to climate violence. As global decarbonization pressures mount, the route's future remains volatile, burdened by geopolitical shifts and market fluctuations.
