India's 162 MT Coal Production Target in FY 2023-24

New Delhi: Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi reviewed the coal production performance of commercial and captive mines in a meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Coal on Thursday. In a tweet, the Minister said that production from captive and commercial coal mines has been steadily increasing over the years, registering 216 % growth during the last six years.

In yesterday's meeting, Shri Joshi deliberated on ways to increase coal production by 39% in this fiscal from commercial and captive mines.

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The Minister also took stock of production from underground coal mines and emphasized on Underground Coal Mine Mission Plan to achieve 100 million tonne coal production.

1. Coal production from captive and commercial mines has been steadily increasing over the years.

• In the last six years, production from captive and commercial coal mines has increased by 216%.
• In FY 2023-24, the government aims to increase coal production by 39% from commercial and captive mines.
• The Minister also took stock of production from underground coal mines and emphasized on the Underground Coal Mine Mission Plan to achieve 100 million tonne coal production.

2. Commercial coal mines auction has been successful.

• In June 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the first-ever commercial coal mines auction under the CM (SP) Act of 2015/ MMDR Act of 1957.
• So far, six tranches of commercial coal mines auctions have been completed and a total of 86 coal mines with a total annual production capacity of 218.9 million tonne per annum (MTPA) have been successfully auctioned.
• The 7th tranche of commercial coal mines auctions offering a total of 98 mines is in progress.

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3. Commercial coal mines are operationalizing quickly.

• Prior to the start of commercial coal mine auctions, the average duration for operationalization of coal mine was around five years.
• However, the average duration of operationalization of coal mines after commercial auctions has been reduced considerably.
• The first commercial coal mine started production within one year from its allocation.
• Coal production from commercial coal mines in FY 2021-22 was 1.15 million tonne (MT) and 7.12 MT in FY 2022-23 with four commercial coal blocks i.e. Sulyari, Garepalma IV/1, Garepalma IV/7 and Gotitoriamines.
• It is expected that additional six commercially auctioned coal mines are likely to be operationalized in FY 2023-24 with an expected coal production of 12.2 million tonne (MT).

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