New Delhi: CIL has planned to dispatch coal to the tune of 700 million tonnes (MT) during 2022-23, out of which 565 MT is earmarked for the power sector. Out of the above target, CIL has dispatched 152.49 MT of coal to the power sector in the first quarter of the current year achieving a growth of 19 per cent  over last year.

CIL has envisaged to enhance its production to reach the level of one billion tonnes (BT) coal by the year 2024-25 from its current production level of about 600 MT in order to meet the demand of coal indigenously and to eliminate non essential import of coal in the country. CIL has already identified all resources required that will contribute to its one BT production plan and its related issues/enablers like requirement of EC/FC, land, evacuation constraints, etc.

As per the Geological Survey of India, as on 1.4.2021, the in-situ geological resources of coal in India upto a depth of 1200m is 352.16 BT which includes proven, indicated and inferred resources. Out of this, the proven resources are 177.18 BT. As per the UNFC classification of CIL blocks as on 1.4.2021, a total of 62.66 BT of geological resources have been projectized in CIL blocks with a total mineable resource of 40.63 BT and total balance mineable resource of 29.96 BT.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi said that to address the issues of coal supplies to power sector, an Inter-Ministerial Sub Group comprising of representatives from Ministries of Power, Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Railways, CEA, CIL and SCCL meet regularly to take various operational decisions to enhance supply of coal to thermal power plants as well as for meeting any contingent situations relating to the power sector including to alleviate critical coal stock position in power plants. /BI/