New Delhi: The Ministry of Coal, in collaboration with Coal India, is set to establish new coal washeries across the country to optimise coal processing and reduce dependency on imported coal. These washeries aim to improve the quality of domestic coal, enhancing its utility for power generation and industrial use.
 

A special committee has been formed to oversee the optimal utilisation of existing coal washeries, reflecting the government’s commitment to modernising coal infrastructure and maximising output from current assets.
 

Top officials from Coal India and the Ministry of Coal recently met with CMDs of coal power plants that rely on imported coal. The discussions centred on the possibility of Coal India supplying coal to these plants, potentially reducing India’s reliance on costly imports.
 

India currently has a substantial coal stockpile of over 100 million tonnes. The Ministry of Coal is considering strategies to reduce imports, particularly for industries like cement and steel, and National Coal Index power plants, which are major consumers of imported coal. This strategic shift highlights the government’s broader agenda of enhancing self-reliance in energy production and reducing foreign exchange outflow due to coal imports. /BI