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Coal Ministry
From the market listings of two subsidiaries of state-owned CIL to a surge in funding for ambitious coal gasification projects, the coal sector braces for a whirlwind of activities in 2026 that could redefine energy security amid the global push for cleaner fuels. With ambitious mining reforms, surging global demand for critical minerals, and the government's push, 2026 is likely to fuel the green energy boom, promising to unearth not just resources but also boost economic powerhouses. As India races toward its ambitious Viksit Bharat@2047 goals, the Centre is rolling out sweeping reforms in the coal and mining sector to bolster national energy security. These changes target key pain points like cumbersome approval processes, inefficient dispatch mechanisms, and safety protocols, aiming to create a resilient, self-reliant energy ecosystem. The initiatives will accelerate clean energy adoption, reduce import dependence, and ensure a stable power supply for a USD 30 trillion economy
The coal ministry has revised and simplified the approval process for exploration programmes and geological reports related to coal and lignite blocks, a move aimed at enhancing ease of doing business and giving a fillip to efficient and sustainable exploration. The new process does not require a go-ahead from the government panel set up in 2022 for this purpose. "The Ministry of Coal has reviewed the earlier methodology and simplified the mechanism for approval of exploration programs and Geological Reports (GRs) for coal and lignite blocks prepared by Notified Accredited Prospecting Agencies (APAs) accredited by QCI-NABET and peer-reviewed by another such APA," a statement from the ministry said. The country's increasing energy requirements demand faster, more efficient, and technologically robust exploration of coal and lignite resources. In line with this national imperative, the coal ministry continues to introduce progressive reforms that enhance transparency, strengthen priv
The government will soon put up for sale coal blocks that have potential for coal gasification, a senior official said on Friday. The development assumes significance in the wake of the government's plan to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal in the next five years. "Very soon we would auction the coal blocks that have potential for coal gasification," Coal Additional Secretary Rupinder Brar said on the sidelines of the roadshow on coal gasification jointly organised by the coal ministry and Ficci. Coal gasification is a process that converts coal into a synthetic gas (syngas), a mixture of gases like carbon monoxide and hydrogen, by reacting it with oxygen and steam at high temperatures. This syngas can then be used to produce various downstream products, including fertilizers, methanol, and synthetic natural gas, offering a cleaner and more diversified use of coal compared to traditional burning. These coal blocks would be put up for sale under the commercial coal mining auction,
The government has come out with draft rules to form an organisation to regulate the functioning of the proposed coal exchange that will facilitate the trading of coal as a commodity. The proposed Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) will be a subordinate office of the coal ministry. Its responsibilities include coal mine closure activities to ensure environmental sustainability, collecting and disseminating coal statistics, inspecting collieries, issuing directives on coal grades, and acting as an appellate authority for grade-related disputes. "Ministry of coal proposes to appoint the Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) to register and regulate the coal exchange(s) to be established in the country," says the draft coal exchange rules, 2025 on which the ministry has invited comments from stakeholders by mid-October. The operations of the coal exchange would broadly be government by the regulations made by CCO. The draft further said that the recent policy reforms in the coal sector h