Union Minister of Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi, chaired a crucial Consultative Committee Meeting of the Ministry of Coal, shedding light on India’s remarkable strides in coal production. Anticipating a significant milestone, the Minister projected that overall coal production is poised to surpass one billion tonnes this year.
Addressing the meeting, Shri Joshi emphasized the pivotal role of coal production and uptake in ensuring India’s energy security, especially with the projection of doubling per capita electricity consumption by 2030. He credited this surge to innovative measures undertaken by the Ministry of Coal, leading to a substantial increase in domestic coal production and availability.
Under the transparent online Commercial Coal Mine Auction initiated in 2020, Shri Joshi reported that 91 mines have been successfully auctioned, with the 9th Tranche launched on December 20, 2023. Issues and concerns raised during the meeting will be actively addressed by the Coal Ministry for suitable remedial measures.
During the session, Secretary of the Ministry of Coal, Shri Amrit Lal Meena, and Additional Secretary & Nominated Authority, Shri M. Nagaraju, provided a detailed presentation on “Commercial & Captive Coal Production, Strategies for Enhancing Coal Availability.” The presentation highlighted recent groundbreaking initiatives in India’s coal mining sector.
The officials outlined the trajectory of coal production, including captive and commercial mines. Since 2014, coal production from captive/commercial mines has witnessed a significant increase, with expectations to touch approximately 145 MT in FY 23-24. By FY 2030, the contribution of captive and commercial mines to the total domestic production is projected to rise to about 25%.
The Ministry of Coal has undertaken extensive reforms since 2020, introducing initiatives like auctioning on a revenue-sharing basis, incentives for early production and gasification, a national coal and lignite index for pricing, and streamlined approval processes. Strategies such as revamped mining plans, weekly review meetings, and enhanced transportation capacity through railways have further boosted coal production.
Members of Parliament lauded the Ministry’s efforts and offered valuable suggestions during the meeting. Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi commended Coal India Limited (CIL), other PSUs, and private companies for their contributions to the increased coal production and dispatch. He expressed confidence that challenges in coal evacuation would be continually addressed with the support of the Rail Ministry. The Minister pledged to eliminate the need for thermal coal imports within the next two to three years, substituting it entirely with domestic thermal coal. Shri Joshi thanked all committee members and assured a thorough consideration of the suggestions put forth during the session.
