New Delhi: A high-level meeting, held on January 3, 2024, by the Ministry of Coal under the leadership of Additional Secretary and Nominated Authority M Nagaraju, reviewed the robust performance of captive and commercial coal mines in India. The meeting lauded the commendable increase in coal production achieved by allottees and reiterated the commitment to attaining ambitious targets for FY 2023-24. Emphasis was placed on expediting the operationalization of nearly completed coal blocks to further bolster production.
As of December 31, 2023, India boasts 50 operational captive/commercial coal mines, catering to diverse sectors: 32 dedicated to the power sector, 11 to the non-regulated sector, and 7 to coal sale. Notably, since the launch of commercial coal mine auctions in 2020, six mines with a combined peak rated capacity of 14.87 million tonnes (MT) have commenced production within just three and a half years, showcasing the initiative’s efficacy.
December 2023 witnessed a phenomenal 38% surge in total coal production from captive and commercial mines, reaching 14.04 MT compared to 10.14 MT in the same month of the previous year. Coal dispatch mirrored this remarkable trend, registering a 39% increase, from 9.58 MT in December 2022 to 13.32 MT in December 2023. The average daily coal dispatch in December 2023 stood at an impressive 4.3 lakh tonnes.
The period from April 1 to December 31, 2023, further underscores the exceptional growth trajectory. Total coal production during this period reached around 98 MT, while total coal dispatch amounted to 103 MT, translating to significant year-over-year (y-o-y) growth of 26% and 32%, respectively, compared to the corresponding period in FY 2022-23. Notably, the Non-Regulated Sector and Commercial coal mines spearheaded this surge, achieving exceptional production increases of 98% and 101%, respectively.
The Ministry of Coal remains steadfast in its commitment to sustaining this momentum and achieving its ambitious production and dispatch targets. Securing a stable coal supply lies at the heart of this pursuit, aiming to safeguard India’s energy future and propel further economic growth.
This revised version presents the information in a formal and concise manner, focusing on key statistics, achievements, and future goals. It also utilizes stronger verbs and impactful phrasing to convey the significance of the developments in the Indian coal sector.