Govt plans to increase coal production to 1.5 billion tonnes by 2029-30

India has witnessed the highest ever coal production in the year 2022-23. The Ministry of Coal in a press release mentioned that the all India coal production in the year 2022-23 was 893.19 Million Tonne in comparison to 778.21 Million Tonne in the year 2021-22. Further, in the current financial year up to Nov. 2023, the country has produced about 591.40 Million Tonne of coal as compared to about 524.72 MT during the same period of last year with a growth of about 13%.

Coal Production plans

The government is now planning to increase the coal production to 1.5 billion Tonnes by 2029-2030 to meet the growing demand. Coal India is looking to enhance the production through extension of existing mines and opening of new mines. So far, the coal ministry through auctions in 7 tranches, 91 coal blocks are successfully auctioned.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi in the parliament mentioned that, the transition away from coal is not happening in India in the foreseeable future. "Although India is pushing for renewable, non-fossil-based energy, but the share of coal in the energy basket is going to remain significant in the years ahead to ensure affordable energy availability", said Joshi.

He further added that although some mines may be closed down due to exhaustion of reserves, many new coal blocks are being operationalised to meet the growing energy demand. He also added that the World Bank is implementing a technical assistance project to study the closed and about to be closed mines.

"The World Bank is implementing a technical assistance project. This is intended for the study of already closed, abandoned and to be closed mines due to resource exhaustion and geo-spatial mapping of the area," the coal and mines minister informed the Parliament.

Joshi also noted that these mines would create more jobs and improve the livelihood of people.

"These mines are not only ensuring affordability and energy security of the nation, but also providing new additional opportunities for new employment and redeployment of workers in new mines from the to-be-closed mines to ensure better livelihood and also generate indirect employment opportunities in coal regions", Joshi said in the parliament.