Page 2 - Coal Industry

Trump admin opens more land for coal, offers $625 mn for plant upgrades

The Trump administration said Monday it will open 13 million acres of federal lands for coal mining and provide USD 625 million to recommission or modernize coal-fired power plants as President Donald Trump continues his efforts to reverse the year-long decline in the US coal industry. Actions by the Energy and Interior departments and the Environmental Protection Agency follow executive orders Trump issued in April to revive coal, a reliable but polluting energy source that's long been shrinking amid environmental regulations and competition from cheaper natural gas. Environmental groups denounced announcement, which come as the Trump administration has clamped down on renewable energy, including freezing permits for offshore wind projects, ending clean energy tax credits and blocking wind and solar projects on federal lands. Under Trump's orders, the Energy Department has required fossil-fuelled power plants in Michigan and Pennsylvania to keep operating past their retirement date

Ministry issues draft rules allowing CCO to regulate proposed coal exchange

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

Govt to offer big carbon capture incentives as coal stays key in energy mix

The initiative, aimed at promoting carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies, could offer funding support ranging from 50 per cent to 100 per cent for select projects

GST rate cut boosts Coal India's efforts to cut costly fuel imports

The tax changes "will make Coal India more competitive and better prepared to substitute imports," said Rupesh Sankhe, senior vice president for research at Elara Capital India Pvt

Coal import declines in July over weak demand, availability of high stock

India's coal import dropped 16.4 per cent to 21.08 million tonnes (MT) in July due to sluggish demand during monsoon and availability of high stock. The country's coal import was 25.23 million tonnes (MT) in the year-ago period. India's import during the April-July period of the current fiscal year also declined to 97.49 million tonnes over 100.48 million tonnes in the year-ago period, according to mjunction services, a B2B e-commerce platform and a joint venture between Tata Steel and SAIL. "There was a decline in volumes due to sluggish demand during monsoon and the high stock available in the system. We expect to see an uptick in demand before the festive season starting end-September," mjunction MD & CEO Vinaya Varma said. Of the total imports in July, non-coking coal import stood at 11.54 MT, against 16.52 MT imported in July last financial year. Coking coal import was at 5.85 MT, against 4.81 MT recorded during July last fiscal year. During the April-July period, non-coking

Coal output from captive, commercial mines jumps 12% in Apr-Aug FY26

Coal production from captive and commercial mines across the country rose by 11.88 per cent year-on-year to 73.92 million tonnes (MT) during April-August period of the current fiscal year. The output of dry fuel from captive and commercial mines was recorded at 66.07 million tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. "The cumulative figures for the financial year 2025-26 up to August reflect a strong year-on-year growth, with production rising by 11.88 per cent and dispatches increasing by 9.12 per cent compared to the same period last year," the coal ministry said in a statement. The increased output reflects higher operational efficiency and more effective utilisation of mining capacity across the sector. In August coal production from captive and commercial mines was recorded at 14.43 million tonnes, while dispatches reached 15.07 million tonnes. The government attributed the sector's improved performance to a series of strategic policy measures, rigorous ...

BS Infra Summit: Clean energy's rise doesn't dent fossil fuel dominance

Twelve years on, fossil fuels still hold the same share in India's electricity, no matter how fast solar and wind grow

India's coal imports rise 1.5% to 76.4 MT in Q1FY26 despite domestic push

The country's coal import rose 1.5 per cent to 76.40 million tonnes in the April-June period of the current fiscal, compared to 75.26 MT in the year-ago period, even as the government pushes to ramp up domestic production of the fossil fuel. The country's coal import in June also increased to 23.91 million tonnes (MT) over 22.97 MT in the corresponding month of the previous fiscal, according to mjunction Services Ltd, a B2B e-commerce platform and a joint venture between Tata Steel and SAIL. During April-June, non-coking coal imports were at 49.08 MT, almost flat compared to 49.12 MT imported during the same period in the previous fiscal. Coking coal import was at 16.37 MT during April-June 2025, up against 15.45 MT recorded for April-June 2024. Of the total imports in June, non-coking coal imports stood at 14.85 MT, against 14.19 MT imported in June last year. Coking coal import stood at 5.78 MT, against 5.45 MT imported in June 2024. State-owned CIL's coal production dropped by

Decline in coal output drags core infrastructure growth to 2% in July

For the first four months (April - July) of the current financial year, growth stood at 1.6 per cent against 6.3 per cent last year. In July 2024, the Index of Core Industries (ICI) had risen 6.3 per

JSW Steel seeks higher met coke import quota to ease supply shortfall

India, the world's second-biggest crude steel producer, in June extended country-specific import quotas of so-called met coke for six months to the end of December

Coal India targets 900MT supply for FY26, plans ₹16,000cr capex boost

Coal India Ltd (CIL) has set an ambitious supply target of 900.24 million tonnes (MT) for 2025-26, representing over 18 per cent growth from the previous year's achievement, as part of a strategy to meet rising power demand and reduce imports. According to the company's outlook by its management in its latest annual report, around 74 per cent of the total coal dispatch is expected to be consumed by the power sector alone, underscoring CIL's critical role in ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply across the country. The projected demand from the power sector for FY26 stands at 668.1 MT, and the company aims to cater to the entire requirement of power and non-regulated consumers while substituting imported coal wherever possible, the miner informed. CIL's growth roadmap aligns with the government's objective of providing 24x7 power to every household, with plans to scale up production to 1 billion tonnes by 2028-29, the company said. To sustain growth while reducing environmental

Coal India output dips 6% to 229.8 mt in April-July amid monsoon impact

State-owned CIL on Friday reported a six per cent drop in production at 229.8 million tonnes (MT) in the April-July period of the current financial year even as the government is making efforts to increase the output to cut imports. The company had produced 244.3 MT of coal in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, Coal India Ltd (CIL) said in a filing to BSE. The coal behemoth did not give reasons for the decline in production. However, industry analysts attribute the production dip to typical monsoon-related disruptions, which can hinder mining operations and dispatch to power plants. CIL accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output. Coal production in July also dropped to 46.4 MT from 55 MT in the corresponding month of previous fiscal. Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy had earlier said that the country will not face any shortage of coal in the upcoming monsoon season, as the government is well prepared to meet the demand across various sectors, including the powe

Rain may have washed it away: Meghalaya minister on 4K tonnes missing coal

As the Meghalaya High Court pulled up the state government over the disappearance of over 4,000 tonnes of coal, a minister on Monday claimed that heavy rain in the state might have washed it away. The high court has directed the state government to take action against officials under whose watch the coal went missing. Speaking to reporters, Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla said, "Meghalaya receives the highest rainfall. You never know... because of rain, the coal might have swept away. Chances are very high." The high court had on July 25 pulled up the state government over the vanishing of coal from Rajaju and Diengngan villages and instructed it to trace those responsible for lifting the coal illegally. The minister, however, clarified that he was not trying to justify the disappearance, and admitted there was no conclusive evidence yet to determine whether the loss was due to natural causes or any illegal activity. "I cannot blame just the rain. It could be or it could not be. I .

Trump offers regulatory relief for coal, iron ore and chemical industries

President Donald Trump is granting two years of regulatory relief to coal-fired power plants, chemical manufacturers and other polluting industries as he seeks to reverse Biden-era regulations he considers overly burdensome. Trump issued a series of proclamations late Thursday exempting a range of industries that he calls vital to national security. The proclamations cover coal-fired power plants, taconite iron ore processing facilities used to make steel, and chemical manufacturers that help produce semiconductors and medical device sterilisers. The proclamations allow the facilities to comply with Environmental Protection Agency standards that were in place before rules imposed in recent years by President Joe Biden's administration, the White House said. Trump called the Biden-era rules expensive and, in some cases, unattainable. His actions will ensure that "critical industries can continue to operate uninterrupted to support national security without incurring substantial cost

Coal, clean air, and a welcome resolution on India's emission norms

The changes to India's policy on emissions from coal plants are not a rollback - but a confident assertion of regulatory maturity, scientific integrity, and rational national interest

Coal miners spent ₹3K cr on progressive mine closure in 3 years: Official

About Rs 3,000 crore was spent during the last three years by coal mine operators on progressive mine closure in the country due to the efficient work by the Coal Controller, said a senior official on Friday. Addressing the Indian National Committee of the World Mining Congress (INC WMC) here, V L Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, also said that when it comes to the non-coal sector, the Controller General of the Indian Bureau of Mines is ensuring that all 1,200 mines are undertaking progressive mine closure. "They (Coal Controller) have ensured that in the existing, there are about 500 coal mines, and people have spent about Rs 3,000 crore in the last three years on progressive mine closure. That's a big achievement, and all the credit goes to this Coal Controller who has ensured that people spend not only at the end of the coal mine but also every five years," Kantha Rao said. He further said that in the case of non-coal, the state governments have been a bit slow in carryi

Abandoned coal pits turn into fish farms, provide livelihood in Jharkhand

In the coal-mining heartland of Jharkhand, abandoned water-filled pits left behind by mining companies are being transformed into profitable fish farms, providing livelihoods for displaced communities and addressing protein shortages in rural areas. Around 1,741 such abandoned coal pits exist across Jharkhand, with many dating back to the 1980s. While coal mining companies are legally mandated to undertake scientific closure of these pits, implementation has been poor due to expensive costs involved. The Kuju Fishermen Cooperative Society, operating from the 22-acre Ara coal pit in Ramgarh district, has emerged as a success story in this transformation. Shashikant Mahto, now Secretary of Kuju Fishermen Cooperative Society, began the initiative in 2010 without proper infrastructure. "I began fish farming in the water-filled abandoned Ara coal pit without any cage. I had randomly put fish seed and harvested a good crop," Mahto said. His first catch, a 15-kg Katla fish, won him the f

Govt clears revised ₹5,940 crore plan for Jharia Coalfield rehabilitation

The revised plan prioritises a phased approach to tackle fire and subsidence, focusing first on the most vulnerable sites

Govt allocates 200 coal blocks, reaffirms push for sectoral reforms

The coal ministry on Tuesday said it has allocated a total of 200 coal blocks so far. "The Ministry of Coal has achieved a historic milestone with the allocation of its 200th coal mine, underscoring its relentless drive to transform India's coal sector," an official statement said. The allocation for the Marwatola-II coal block in Madhya Pradesh to Singhal Business Pvt Ltd reaffirms the government's commitment to sectoral reforms, fostering private participation, and bolstering national self-reliance in coal production, it added. The Nominated Authority reaffirmed the Ministry's steadfast commitment to nurturing an environment conducive to investment, reducing procedural impediments, and enabling the expeditious operationalisation of coal blocks across the country. Over the past several years, the coal ministry has ushered in a suite of transformative reforms, from the advent of commercial coal mining and the rollout of a single-window clearance system to the adoption of digital ..

India's coal import drops 4.4% to 24.95 MT in April, up from March

India's coal import dropped 4.4 per cent to 24.95 million tonnes (MT) in April. The country imported 26.10 MT coal in the corresponding month of the previous year. According to data compiled by B2B e-commerce company mjunction services ltd, coal import in April was up 9.48 per cent as against 22.79 MT in March 2025. Of the total import in April, non-coking coal import stood at 15.90 MT against 17.40 MT imported in April last fiscal year. Coking coal import stood at 5.42 MT, against 4.97 MT imported in April 2024. "Availability of surplus stock in the system has reduced buyers' appetite for imported materials, even as the seaborne prices have remained soft. This trend is likely to continue until such time as demand picks up before the festive season," mjunction MD & CEO Vinaya Varma said. The country's domestic coal production increased 3.6 per cent to 81.57 million tonnes in April. India's domestic coal output was 78.71 MT in the corresponding month of the preceding fiscal ...