New Delhi: During the last nine years, India’s overall coal production has gone up by 47 per cent to 893.08 Million Tonne (MT) and supply has touched 877.74 million tonne, recording 45.37 per cent growth. Major leap in coal production of 893.08 MT in FY 2023 is the highest in the history of the country.

At the same time, as per recently finalised Action Plan for 2023-24  by the Ministry of Coal, the coal production target for financial year 2023-24 is 1012 Million Tonne by enhancing overall production, efficiency, sustainability and adopting new technologies.

According to an official statement, during FY 2022-23, the Ministry of Coal had signed agreements for a total of 23 coal mines having cumulative peak rated capacity (PRC) of 33.224 MT per annum. Considering the good response received for the 6th round of commercial auctions, it is expected that 25 coal mines will be allocated during FY 2023-24 for commercial mining.

‘Mission Coking Coal’ was launched by the Central government in August 2021 to come up with a roadmap that would suggest ways to augment the production and utilization of domestic coking coal in India by 2030.

‘Mission Coking Coal’ document has made recommendations majorly relating to new exploration, enhancing production, enhancing washing capacity, and auction of new coking coal mines. Coking coal is mainly used in manufacturing of steel through blast furnace route. Domestic coking coal is high ash coal and is not suitable for direct use in the blast furnace.