Page 4 - Coal Ministry

Sampling, grading of coal at 427 mines completed; to be applicable for FY24

The coal ministry on Wednesday said it has completed the annual exercise of sampling and grading of coal at 427 mines and the new fuel grade will be applicable from April 1 this year. Of the total 427 mines, 331 are central public sector units, 69 under state governments and 27 private sector mines, the coal ministry said in a statement. "To ensure the correctness of the grade, the samples drawn were analyzed in two different labs," it added. The ministry further said, the process of "declaration of annual grading of seams of mines as per laid down procedure has been completed" and the declared grade will be applicable with effect from April 1, 2024. The Coal Controller's Organisation (CCO), having its field offices at Dhanbad, Ranchi, Bilaspur, Nagpur, Sambalpur, and Kothagudem, carried out the exercise of drawing the coal samples and its analysis from coal and lignite mines for the ongoing financial year. CCO, a subordinate office of the coal ministry, lays down the procedure an

Coal, lignite production hits all-time high of 1 bn tonnes in FY24: Joshi

The country has for the first time crossed the milestone of 1 billion tonnes of coal and lignite production in the financial year 2023-24, Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Monday. India's total coal and lignite output was at 937 million tonnes (MT) in the preceding 2022-23 fiscal, as per official figures. "Proud to share that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, we have registered a stellar achievement by crossing 1 billion tonne (BT) coal and lignite production," Joshi said. It is a historic moment for India as the country has achieved the highest-ever production, and it will go a long way in ensuring energy security to the nation. The continuous efforts to increase domestic coal production has ensured that going forward the country will never have to face coal shortage, the minister said. Joshi further said, "I thank the officials of the sector, all the coal warriors and private miners for their grit and hard work in helping achieve mission-1BT. Owing to y

Summer ready: Railways draws up plan to ease coal transportation

The ministry will rely extensively on EDFC between Punjab and Bihar

Ministries test the AI waters: Try out use cases in bid to reduce workload

'A case study is being carried out across ministries by a dedicated wing which consists of experts to figure out the AI use cases under AI mission,' a senior government official said

Coal PSUs must plan pithead-based thermal projects, says Coal Secy Meena

The Coal Ministry has asked Coal India Ltd and NLC India Ltd to go for pithead-based thermal projects with an aim to reduce transportation cost and improve availability of dry fuel, a top government official said. The plan is that all new thermal projects of Coal India Ltd (CIL) and NLC India Ltd should come up near the coal mines, Coal Secretary Amrit Lal Meena told PTI. This will reduce the dependence on transportation, which is mostly through rail and road, and make the coal accessible for usage in power generation, he said, while replying to a question on new projects of coal PSUs, the official said. The move will also reduce logistics cost and cost of power generation, he said, listing the benefits of a pithead-based unit. Coal India has signed an agreement with Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (RUVNL) for a joint venture to set up 4,100 megawatt of power generation capacity in Rajasthan, Meena said. Of this 1,725 MW will be pithead-based capacity, 200 MW pumped storage, 50 win

Ministry to ensure 874 mn tonne coal supply for power sector in FY25: Joshi

The coal ministry is geared up to meet 874 million tonnes of anticipated coal demand for the power sector in 2024-25, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. For the financial year ending March 31, the Power Ministry had placed a requirement of 821 million tonnes, Joshi told PTI on the sidelines of the release of the 'PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan in Coal Sector' booklet. Their (power ministry's) demand has been met. They had asked for 821 million tonnes and it has been supplied, the Minister said. "For FY25, the power ministry has asked for 874 million tonnes of coal. We will fulfil this requirement also. We are going to cross 1 billion tonne coal production by this March," he said. The share of imported coal for blending purposes has gone down this fiscal compared to last financial year, Joshi said. In FY24, coal import for blending was around 22.20 million tonnes, while it was at 30.80 million tonnes in the financial year 2022-23, he said. Savings to the tune of

Coal ministry will fulfill 874 mn tonnes coal requirement in FY25: Min

The coal ministry is geared up to fulfill the 874 million tonnes coal demand for the power sector in financial year 2024-25, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. For the financial year ending March 31, the Power Ministry had placed a requirement of 821 million tonnes, Joshi told PTI on the sidelines of the release of 'PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan in Coal Sector' booklet. Their (power ministry's) demand has been met. They had asked for 821 million tonnes and it has been supplied, the Minister said. "For FY25, the power ministry has asked for 874 million tonnes of coal. We will fulfill this requirement also. We are going to cross 1 billion tonne coal production by this March," he said. The share of imported coal for blending purposes has gone down this fiscal compared to last financial year, Joshi said. In FY24, coal import for blending was around 22.20 million tonnes, while it was at 30.80 million tonnes in the financial year 2022-23, he said. Savings to the tune

Results of 9th round of coal auctions may be announced within two weeks

As many as 32 coal mines were put into action in the 9th round

Govt banks on coal to power nation in summer; peak demand may cross 265 Gw

The government is expecting a major share of the load to fall on coal-based power to meet demand and is boosting coal supply at all ends

Coal India production hits record 703.91 MT this fiscal until March 7

Production of Coal India Ltd hit a record 703.91 million tonnes (MT) in this fiscal until March 7, surpassing the last fiscal's output of 703.20 MT, the Coal Ministry said on Friday. Highlighting that several key measures were implemented to enhance production, the ministry said Coal India maintains an ample stock of 72.70 MT as of 7th March 2024. "Coal India Limited (CIL) has achieved a record production of 703.91 million tonnes of coal up to 7th March 2024 during the current fiscal, surpassing last financial year's production of 703.20 MT by an impressive margin of 26 days," the ministry said in a release. Adoption of the Mine Developer and Operator model, mechanization and modernization of CIL mines, both Underground & Opencast, undertaking new projects, expanding existing projects, have bolstered coal production, it said. The ministry in a separate release stated that the domestic coal sector registered a growth of 10.2 per cent in January. The index of the coal industry ...

WBPDCL not debarred illegally to participate in auctions: Coal Ministry

The Centre on Monday refuted media reports that West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited was illegally barred by the Coal Ministry from participating in an auction for coal mines located in West Bengal. "An article has been published in a section of media alleging that the Union Government illegally barred West Bengal from coal auctions, benefiting a corporate. "It is alleged that the Coal Ministry disqualified West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) from participating in the auction of West Bengal-based coal mines considering WBPDCL as a prior allottee and has not paid additional levy within the prescribed time," the Ministry of Coal said in a statement. The allegations made in the article are incorrect and baseless, the ministry said. Coal mines are allocated through auction to government and private companies and through allotment only to government companies, it added. As per Section 4(4) of the Coal Mines (Special Provision) Act, if the prior allot

Coal production from captive, commercial mines rises 27% in Apr-Feb

Of the 91 mines awarded under commercial coal auctions, seven blocks have already started production

Coal minister Joshi launches coal logistics policy for infra development

The coal ministry is building an AI-powered dedicated logistics platform for the fossil fuel which would integrate all the existing central and state-level coal transport tracking systems

Ministry of coal encouraging extensive diversification within CPSEs

The Coal Ministry on Tuesday said it is actively encouraging extensive diversification within central public sector units, including Coal India, in line with the country's commitment to varied energy mix. The ministry has two large Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSUs), Coal India Ltd (CIL) and NLC India Ltd (NLCIL), under its administrative control. "In line with India's commitment to diversifying its energy mix, the Ministry of Coal is actively promoting extensive diversification within CPSEs, establishing pit-head TPPs, solar power plants, coal/lignite gasification plants, and critical mineral exploration," the coal ministry said in a statement. Stressing the use of de-coaled land for cost-effective pit-head thermal power plants, the ministry's directive targets to secure sustainable operations for both PSUs, foreseeing a future coal surplus. CIL is a hard-core coal company with seven arms while NLCIL is in lignite, power generation, new renewable energy and coal ...

PM to inaugurate South Eastern Coalfields projects in Chhattisgarh on Sat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate three first mile connectivity projects of South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. The First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects are valued at Rs 600 crore. SECL is a subsidiary of Coal India. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to virtually inaugurate three key First Mile Connectivity projects of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a Coal India Subsidiary under Ministry of Coal, in Chhattisgarh tomorrow," the coal ministry said in a statement. One project is the Dipka Open Cast Project (OCP) coal handling plant that has been constructed at a cost of over Rs 211 crore. With an annual coal handling capacity of 25 Million Tonne (MT), the project has an overground bunker with a capacity of 20,000 tonne and a 2.1 kilometre-long conveyor belt. This will facilitate the rapid loading of 4,5008,500 tonne of coal per hour, the statement said. The second project is the Chhal OCP coal handling plant, buil

PM Modi to inaugurate Rs 600 cr-worth First Mile Connectivity projects

The First Mile Connectivity projects aim to reduce reliance on coal transportation via roads, thereby mitigating traffic congestion, road accidents, and environmental impact

Centre to hold roadshow in Ranchi to woo investors for coal mine auction

The coal ministry will organise a roadshow in Ranchi to increase participation of investors in the commercial coal mine auction. Coal Secretary Shri Amrit Lal Meena will be the chief guest for the event while additional secretary M Nagaraju will be the guest of honour, the coal ministry said in a statement. "To enhance participation in commercial auction of coal mines, the Ministry of Coal is organising a roadshow at Ranchi on January 16," it said. The government launched the process for sale of 39 coal mines under eight rounds of commercial auctions and 31 under the ninth. These 70 coal mines are from the coal-bearing states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and West Bengal. Of the said mines, 27 are fully explored ones and 43 are partially explored, the statement said, adding that seven are coking coal mines, while the rest are not. The mines have been finalised after detailed deliberations and those falling under protected areas

India's coal imports up 11.7% to 21 MT in Nov, demand likely to be subdued

The country registered an 11.7 per cent rise in coal imports to 20.95 Million Tonnes (MT) in November as compared to the year-ago period. The country's coal imports in November 2022 was 18.75 MT, according to data compiled by B2B e-commerce company mjunction services. However, coal import in the April-November period of the current financial year dropped to 169.08 MT from 173.47 MT in the year-ago period. There was reduction in coal imports due to ample domestic supply and a slowdown in demand after the festive season in October, mjunction MD and CEO Vinaya Varma said. The demand for imported coal, he said, is likely to remain subdued in the coming months. Of the total import in November 2023, non-coking coal import was at 14.37 MT, against 11.88 MT in the same month the previous year. Coking coal import was at 4.23 MT, against 3.90 MT imported in November 2022. During the April-November period in 2023, non-coking coal import stood at 108.90 MT, lower than 116.28 MT imported dur

Coal production from captive, commercial mines likely at 187 MT in FY25

The government on Monday said that coal production from captive and commercial blocks is likely to be 186.63 Million Tonnes (MT) in the next fiscal. The production will be further enhanced to 225.69 MT in FY26, the coal ministry said in a statement. "As per the present plans of the ministry, production targets from such mines will be touching 383.56 million tonnes by FY 2029-30," the coal ministry said in a statement. In the 2024-25 fiscal, coal production from such mines is expected to rise to 186.63 MT, the government said. In December 2023, the total coal production from captive and commercial coal mines rose 38 per cent to 14.04 MT from 10.14 MT in the year-ago period, it said. As per the latest figures, 50 captive and commercial coal mines are in operation. The total coal production from captive and commercial coal mines in the April 1-December 31, 2023 period was 98 MT, as per the statement. In 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the auction process for 41 coal

Eighth round of commercial coal mines auction received great response: Govt

The eighth tranche of commercial coal mine auctions has received an overwhelming response from the industry, the government said on Friday. The last date for submission of bids for the eighth round is January 29. "The ongoing 8th round has witnessed an overwhelming response from the industry, which is evident from the fact that a lot of queries have been received from a number of bidders along with several site-visit requests," the coal ministry said in a statement. The bids received in this tranche will be opened on January 30 in the presence of the bidders. In the eighth round, 39 coal mines have been offered, the ministry said. The round was launched on November 15, 2023 by Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi. The pre-bid meeting for the round was held on December 12 and more than 50 bidders had participated in it.