The government has set an ambitious target of achieving coal production of nearly 1 billion tonnes in the next four years.
"Coal production in the last four years has hardly been growing by 1-1.5 per cent. For the last year I see production going up by about 6 per cent. I have an ambitious target of nearly a billion tonnes in the next four years," Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters here.
He said, "We together with Coal India can increase coal production to nearly a billion tonnes in the next four years and introduce new technologies to enhance production."
More than half of thermal power plants, at present, facing fuel shortage due to low coal production in the country.
On asked about the fuel shortage, Goyal said, "I see no reason for power plants to suffer the kind of shortage they are doing now for very long. I am confident that once the appropriate measures are taken post the SC judgement and our efforts to increase Coal India production are in place."
According to recent data by the Central Electricity Authority, total fuel stocks at 103 coal-based stations have come down to around 73 lakh tonnes.
This 73 lakh tonnes comprise 65.8 lakh tonnes of indigenous coal and 7.06 lakh tonnes of imported fuel.
Coal India has set a target of producing 5,070 lakh tonnes of fuel. The company produced 4,620 lakh tonnes dry fuel, last fiscal.
Goyal today met SAARC energy ministers and said initial discussions have started for setting up an integrated power transmission grid connecting India with its neighbouring nations including Bhutan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
