India Achieves Record Coal Production in 2023-24, Aiming to Boost Coking Coal Output
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New Delhi, Dec 29 (NationPress) India has achieved its highest coal production ever, totaling 997.826 million tonnes (MT) in the financial year 2023-24. This figure reflects a substantial 11.71 percent increase from 893.191 MT in 2022-23, according to the year-end assessment by the Coal Ministry.
In the calendar year 2024 (up to December 15, 2024), the nation supplied approximately 963.11 MT of coal, in contrast to around 904.61 MT during the same period last year, indicating a growth of 6.47 percent. The power sector received 792.958 MT of coal, up from 755.029 MT last year, reflecting a growth of 5.02 percent.
The non-regulated sector received 171.236 MT of coal, compared to 149.573 MT the previous year, showing an increase of 14.48 percent.
To address the growing demand from the steel sector, the Ministry of Coal has initiated 'Mission Coking Coal,' aimed at boosting domestic coking coal production and reducing imports. This initiative targets a production of 140 MT of raw coking coal by FY 2029-30.
During the financial year 2023-24, domestic raw coking coal production reached 66.821 million tonnes (MT), while the target for 2024-25 is set at 77 MT.
Coal India Limited (CIL) subsidiaries aim to increase raw coking coal production from 60.43 MT in FY 2023-24 to approximately 105 MT by FY 2029-30.
Efforts are being made to modernize and renovate aging washeries of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) to optimize their use and enhance the availability of high-quality coal in India.
The Ministry is also facilitating coal supply to the steel sector through the Non-Regulated Sector (NRS) Linkage auction, promoting domestic coking coal usage and implementing reforms to reduce reliance on coking coal imports.
Additionally, the Ministry has auctioned 14 coking coal blocks to private entities, which are expected to commence production by 2028-29.
