India achieved a record coal production of 997.83 million tonnes (MT) in the financial year 2023-24, marking an 11.71% increase from 893.19 MT in 2022-23. The Ministry of Coal has set an ambitious target of 1.5 billion tonnes (BT) of coal production by 2030 as part of its Integrated Coal Logistics Plan.
As of December 15, 2024, provisional coal production reached 988.32 MT, reflecting a 7.66% year-on-year increase. Coal supplies also grew significantly, with 963.11 MT supplied by December 15, 2024, a rise of 6.47% from the previous year.
The power sector received 792.96 MT of coal, a 5.02% rise, while the Non-Regulated Sector (NRS) saw a 14.48% increase with 171.24 MT supplied. The “Mission Coking Coal” initiative aims to achieve 140 MT of domestic raw coking coal production by 2030, with 66.82 MT produced in FY 2023-24 and a target of 77 MT for FY 2024-25.
Key strategies include modernizing washeries under Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), monetizing older washeries, and auctioning 14 coking coal blocks to private players, expected to start production by 2028-29.
Reforms to streamline operations and promote transparency have been implemented. In 2024, the VIIth tranche of the NRS e-auction booked 17.84 MT of coal, and four tranches under the SHAKTI B(VIII-A) policy facilitated the auction of 23.98 MT of coal.
A revised pricing mechanism for coal gasification projects was introduced, applying the ROM price for regulated sectors to gasification projects commissioning within seven years. The Ministry also launched the Mine Closure Portal to oversee mine closure activities and the National Coal Mines Safety Report Portal to enhance safety management practices.
Between January 1 and December 18, 2024, 16,838.34 acres of land were acquired for Coal India Limited subsidiaries, and land data for over 257,000 hectares has been uploaded to the PM GatiShakti Portal. Additionally, 13,341 appointment letters were issued for various posts under Coal India Limited (CIL) and NLC India Limited (NLCIL), highlighting the sector’s commitment to job creation.
