Page 8 - Coal Industry

Battery-storage costs must drop 15% to avoid new coal capacity: Report

India might avoid building new coal plants and could limit its coal capacity to planned levels by 2032 if the cost of battery-storage systems drops by 15 per cent annually, according to a new report. Nearly 75 per cent of India's electricity is generated using coal. However, to meet its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070, the country needs to reduce its dependence on coal and increase the use of renewable-energy sources like solar and wind power. The challenge is that solar and wind power plants only generate electricity when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. Therefore, energy-storage systems are needed to store this energy and use it during periods of low generation. The report compiled by global energy think tank Ember and the Delhi-based The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) says if the battery energy storage system (BESS) costs continue to decline at the current rate of 7 per cent annually, India's power sector will see coal generation plateauing until 2032

CIL removes all restrictions on coal purchases, demand to dictate supply

Ends nearly 20-year practice of supply based on contracted capacity

Critical minerals emerged as drivers of modern economy: Coal minister

Coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy on Thursday said that critical minerals have emerged as drivers of the modern economy and the Centre has ensured the country taps into this global opportunity through the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission. Union Budget 2024-25 has proposed launching Critical Mineral Mission for domestic production, recycling of critical minerals, and overseas acquisition of critical mineral assets. Its mandate will include technology development, skilled workforce, extended producer responsibility framework, and a suitable financing mechanism. Addressing the national seminar on challenges and opportunities in the mines and minerals sector organised by the Mining, Geological, Metallurgical Institute of India, Reddy said that the government has brought about a paradigm change in the coal and minerals sector, making it transparent and competitive. He elaborated on the government's extensive efforts over the past decade to harness this potential throu

CIL, GAIL sign agreement to set up coal-to-synthetic natural gas project

State-owned CIL on Monday said it has entered into a joint venture agreement with GAIL (India) Ltd to set up a coal-to-synthetic natural gas project in West Bengal. While Coal India Ltd (CIL) will have 51 per cent shareholding in the joint venture, GAIL, the nation's largest gas transportation and distribution firm, will have 49 per cent. The joint venture will be incorporated as a private limited company. The initial paid-up share capital is Rs 1 lakh, CIL said in a BSE filing. The registered office of the joint venture will be in West Bengal and CIL and GAIL each will have the right to nominate three executives as directors of the JV. Earlier this year, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had approved setting up a coal-to-synthetic natural gas project through a joint venture between CIL and GAIL, and a coal-to-ammonium nitrate project through a venture between CIL and BHEL. CIL will set up two coal gasification plants as part of efforts to achieve the target of 100 MT coal

Bharat Coking Coal pays first-ever Rs 44 crore dividend to Coal India

Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), paid its first-ever dividend of Rs 44.43 crore to its parent company on Sunday. This milestone follows BCCL's achievement of clearing its accumulated losses and reporting a net profit of Rs 1,564 crore for the financial year 2023-24, with a turnover of Rs 13,216 crore. BCCL chairman-cum-managing director Samiran Dutta formally handed over the dividend to CIL chairman P M Prasad at a ceremony. The dividend payment was approved by BCCL shareholders at its 53rd Annual General Meeting on August 1. Dutta attributed the company's strong financial performance and strategic progress to a consistent growth rate of 15 per cent over recent years.

Coal doesn't make sense in today's environment: Avaada group chairman

Mittal has raised $2.6 billion since 2023 from Canadian fund Brookfield and Thailand's state-run oil company PTT group, enabling him to participate and win several bids this year

Coal production increases by 6.69% to 74.07 mn tonnes in July: Govt

India's coal output rose by 6.69 per cent year-on-year to 74.07 million tonnes (MT) in July, the government said on Thursday. The country's coal production was 69.42 MT in the corresponding month of previous fiscal, the coal ministry said in a statement. Cumulative coal dispatch witnessed a significant boost in July 2024, touching 79.54 MT, compared to 76.05 MT recorded in July 2023, registering a growth rate of 4.58 per cent. In a separate statement, the ministry said that vesting orders were issued for 10 strategically important coal mines, marking a significant advancement in the nation's coal production capabilities. This initiative, which includes one fully explored and nine partially explored mines, is set to enhance energy security and drive economic growth across the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh, it said. Coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy urged the successful bidders to focus on increasing coal production and reducing imports.

India has potential to export 15 mn tonnes coal to its neighbours: Study

India has a potential to export 15 million tonnes of coal to its neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, according to a study. By promoting exports, increasing domestic production, and facilitating import substitution, the country aims to achieve self-reliance, strengthen energy security and support the growth of the coal sector. "According to a study conducted by IIM Ahmedabad, there may exist potential of exporting 15 MT to the...neighbouring countries," the coal ministry said in a statement. The country has a capacity to export 8 million tonnes (MT) of coal to Bangladesh, 3 MT to Myanmar, 2 MT to Nepal and 2 MT to others. The increased production and export of coal will lead to economic growth, create jobs and generate revenue for the government. The government is actively promoting coal exports to capitalise on the growing global demand for fossil fuels. This initiative aims to position the country as a key player in the international coal market, generating revenue

China coal generation share at record low in May as renewables hit highs

Increased renewable generation led carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector, which make up some 40 per cent of China's overall emissions, to fall by 3.6 per cent in May

19 coal mines allocated to thermal plants for fly ash disposal, says govt

The government on Tuesday said 19 coal mines have been allocated to 13 thermal power plants for disposal of fly ash. The Ministry of Coal has undertaken a significant initiative to ensure proper disposal of fly ash by allocating mine voids. A Central Level Working Group (CLWG) under the chairmanship of Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, was formed in 2023 for this purpose. The interested Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) applies for the allocation of mine voids to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), which is eventually discussed in the CLWG meeting. "In this proactive move, a total of 19 mines have been allocated to 13 TPPs," the coal ministry said in a statement. This allocation addresses environmental concerns associated with fly ash disposal and promotes sustainable practices within the coal mining sector. "Fly ash" means and includes, all forms of ash, such as electrostatic precipitator ash, dry fly ash, bottom ash, pond ash and mound ash, that is generated. Its compositi

Over 100 industry reps attend meet before 10th round of coal mine auction

More than 100 representatives from the industry participated in a pre-bid meeting for the tenth round of commercial coal mine auctions, the government said on Friday. The government has put on sale 67 coal blocks in the 10th round of auction that was launched last month. "Ministry of Coal conducted the pre-bid meeting for 10th round of commercial coal mine auctions under chairmanship of Additional Secretary & Nominated Authority M Nagaraju, which was launched on June 21, 2024 offering 67 coal mines," an official statement said. A detailed presentation on the auction process was made by the transaction advisor, SBI Capital Markets Ltd, while another was given by the technical advisor, CMPDIL, about the mines being offered under this tranche on a revenue-sharing basis. The bid due date of this tranche of auction is August 27. Commercial coal block auction was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2020. Since then, in the last nine rounds, the Ministry of Coal has ...

Coal sector records 10.2% growth rate among eight key infra sectors in May

The coal sector has registered a growth of 10.2 per cent among all eight core industries of the economy in May, the government said on Thursday. The index of coal industry has reached 184.7 points during May as compared to 167.6 points during the same month last year. "The coal sector has demonstrated highest growth of 10.2 per cent (provisional), following the electricity industry among the eight core industries for the month of May, 2024 as per the Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI)) (Base Year 2011-12) released by Ministry of Commerce & Industries," the coal ministry said in a statement. The driving force behind growth can be attributed to a considerable rise in coal production during May. This increase in production underscores the sector's capacity to meet growing demand of energy and manufacturing industries. The exceptional expansion of the coal sector, coupled with its substantial role in propelling the overall growth of the eight core industries, stands as evidence of .

Indian imports of Russian coal decline, US shipments surge in May

Russia's exports of all types of coal to India over the period fell 22.4 per cent from a year earlier

Coal India awards 23 discontinued underground blocks to private miners

State-owned Coal India on Wednesday said it has awarded 23 discontinued underground blocks to private miners through an auction route on revenue sharing model. The cumulative peak rated capacity of these mines is 34.14 million tonnes per year while the total extractable reserves are estimated at 635 MT, the miner said in an exchange filing. "Coal India Limited (CIL) in a bid to tap the latent coal reserves of some of its closed and discontinued underground mines has awarded 23 such mines on revenue sharing model to successful bidders of the private sector," it said. Earlier, CIL had identified a total of 34 discontinued mines where good quality coal reserves are lying dormant but may not be financially viable for CIL to mine them. Hence, the company said it decided to tender and offer these mines to willing private sector players who are prepared to operate and produce the dry fuel and share part of the revenue with the company. "Successful bidder is the one who offers the maximum

Centre plans to launch 'Coal Reforms 3.0', eyes non-power sectors

CoalMin plans to unlock domestic coking coal availability via several steps

India targets higher domestic coal production, reduced imports: Govt

India, which is under pressure from rich economies to stop or reduce coal use, has plans to set up new coal power plants with power generation set to begin four years later

Colombia will suspend coal exports to Israel over Gaza war, says Prez Petro

Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Saturday that his country will suspend coal exports to Israel over the war in Gaza, as relations sour between two countries that were once close military and commercial allies. Petro wrote on the social media platform X that coal exports will only resume when the genocide in Gaza stops. Petro also posted a draft decree, which says that coal exports will only resume if Israel complies with a recent order by the International Court of Justice that says Israel should withdraw its troops from the Gaza strip. According to Colombia's National Statistics Department, coal exports to Israel were worth more than $320 million in the first eight months of last year. That's a small fraction of the nation's overall coal exports which were worth more than $9 billion in 2023. Israel imports more than 50% of its coal from Colombia, according to the American Journal for Transportation, and uses much of it to feed its power plants. Petro, who was elected

Major world economies seek to halt financing of private sector coal deals

Under the plan, financial institutions would fund the early retirement of coal plants, rather than divest from these assets

Coal production in India rises 10% to 83.91 mn tonnes in May: Govt data

The country's coal production rose by 10.15 per cent to 83.91 million tonnes (MT) in May compared to 76.18 MT in the year-ago period. Coal production by state-owned CIL rose by 7.46 per cent to 64.40 MT in May compared to 59.93 MT in the year-ago period, according to the Coal Ministry's provisional data. Coal India Ltd (CIL) accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output. "Additionally, coal production by captive and other entities in May 2024 stood at 13.78 MT (provisional), reflecting a growth of 32.76 per cent from the previous year, which was 10.38 MT," the ministry said in a statement. Similarly, India's overall coal dispatches in May reached 90.84 MT, up by 10.35 per cent as against 82.32 MT reported in the same period last financial year. During the reported month, CIL dispatched 69.08 MT of coal, with a growth of 8.50 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous fiscal when it was 63.67 MT. The total stock of dry fuel with coal companies stands at

400 Dumka villagers boycott voting over coal dumping yard construction

Over 400 people in a village in Dumka district boycotted voting in the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday to protest against the construction of a coal dumping yard, an official said. A total of 426 voters did not exercise their franchise at booth number 94 in Bagdubhi village, a part of the Dumka Lok Sabha constituency, he said. Out of 430 voters enrolled in the booth, only four electors have exercised their franchise till 3 pm, Dumka Circle Officer Amar Kumar told PTI. He said the villagers have been protesting against the construction of the Railways' coal dumping yard. Sub-divisional Officer Ajay Kumar held a meeting with the villagers and assured them of raising the issue with higher authorities. However, they did not agree to vote. A representative of the village, Lakshman Soren, told PTI, We made it clear that if the SDO gives us an assurance in writing to stop the construction of the yard, we will go to cast our votes. But, we were not given any suc