Page 9 - Coal Industry

Ministry of Coal launches 8th round of commercial coal mines auction

Launching the auction virtually, Union Minister for Coal Pralhad Joshi said that all efforts are on to stop coal import by 2025-26.

India's coal import surged 4% in September to 20.61 million tonnes

India's coal import increased by 4.3 per cent to 20.61 million tonnes (MT) in September compared to that of the corresponding month of previous fiscal. The country had imported 19.75 MT of coal in September last fiscal, according to data compiled by B2B e-commerce firm mjunction services limited. Of the total imports in September, non-coking coal imports stood at 13.89 MT, against 12.08 MT imported in September last financial year. Coking coal imports dropped to 4.59 MT from 4.88 MT imported in September FY23. However, the coal import in the April-September period of the current financial year declined to 124.53 MT from 135.68 MT in the year-ago period. During April-September period of FY24, non-coking coal import was at 77.65 MT, lower than 92.72 MT imported during the same period last financial year. Coking coal import was at 29.44 MT during April-September 2023-24, up against 28.05 MT recorded in the corresponding period last financial year. Commenting on the coal import tren

National Coal Index increases to 143.91 points in September: Coal Ministry

The National Coal Index (NCI), which reflects the change in price of coal, has increased by 3.83 points to 143.91 points in September 2023, an official statement said. This increase was on account of a temporary rise of coal prices in global markets, Ministry of Coal said in a statement. "The NCI is marginally up by 3.83 points to 143.91 in September 2023, the first time increase since April 2023. The NCI is used to determine the premium on a per tonne basis or revenue share (on a percentage basis) based on a market-based mechanism," the ministry said. The National Coal Index (NCI) had been rolled out on June 4, 2020 by the Ministry of Coal and it is a price index which reflects the change in price of coal in a particular month relative to the fixed base year. The index is meant to encompass all transactions of raw coal in the Indian market. This includes coking and non-coking of various grades transacted in the regulated (power and fertilizer) and non-regulated sectors. The ...

Notable growth in coal sector due to rise in output of fossil fuel: Govt

The Centre on Thursday said the significant growth in the coal sector is due to a rise in production of the fossil fuel during September. The production of coal in September 2023 increased to 67.27 million tonne (MT), against 58.04 MT in the year-ago period. As per the index of eight core industries for September 2023 released by Ministry of Commerce & Industries, the index of coal sector showed a year-on-year growth of 16.1 per cent to 148.1 points. This is the highest growth in last 14 months except for August 2023, the coal ministry said in a statement. The latest data indicates that the combined index of eight core industries has shown a noteworthy increase of 8.1 per cent (provisional) in September 2023, compared to the same period in the previous year. The Centre has played a crucial role in driving this growth through various strategic initiatives like amendment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2021, allowing captive mines to sell coal or lignite

SECL achieves record 100 MT of coal dispatch with 17.5% growth in FY23

South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) announced on Sunday that it had surpassed 100 million tonnes of coal dispatched for the current fiscal year, achieving a growth of 17.65 per cent over the previous year when the Coal India subsidiary dispatched 85 million tonnes of dry fuel. Of the total dispatch, more than 80 per cent went to the power sector, with the company sending around 81 million tonnes of coal to thermal power plants across the country, according to company officials. "This is the fastest 100 MT coal dispatch achieved by the company since its inception. The company's mega projects Gevra, Dipka, and Kusmunda, located in Korba district (of Chhattisgarh), have made significant contributions to the total dispatch of 100 million tonnes of coal," said SECL Chairman and Managing Director Prem Sagar Mishra. SECL's Gevra mine, currently the largest coal mine in the country, contributed 30.3 million tonnes, while Dipka and Kusmunda contributed 19.1 MT and 25.1 MT of coal, ...

Coal ministry asks DFS to classify coal under infrastructure sector

The coal ministry on Saturday said it has requested the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to consider classifying coal under infrastructure sector, a move which will ensure financing of commercial coal mines. This reclassification would allow banks and financial institutions to formulate policies more effectively to meet the increasing requirements of the coal sector in a time-bound manner, the ministry said while noting that coal is likely to remain a primary source of energy in the foreseeable future. "Banks have expressed their willingness to finance coal mines, provided project viability and equity infusion visibility were demonstrated through detailed business plans," the ministry said in a statement. The government has also invited response from companies having coal mines to determine the quantum of financing imperative towards mine development and operationalization, along with the associated timelines meeting the requirement. This collated information has been shared .

AIPEF demands withdrawal of ministry's order extending coal import deadline

The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) on Thursday demanded withdrawal of the power ministry's order extending coal imports till June 30, 2024, saying there is no shortage of the dry fuel in the country. In an October 23 notification, the government asked imported coal-based power plants to operate at full capacity until June 30, 2024, amid a surge in electricity demand and inadequate domestic coal supplies. Earlier, the directive was extended till October 31, 2023. The government in March this year issued the first directive under Section 11 of the Electricity Act to ISB (imported-coal based) plants. AIPEF Chairman Shailendra Dubey demanded that the power ministry's directive be withdrawn and the more economic indigenous coal be utilized instead as there is no shortage of indigenous coal. The body said if at all any coal is to be imported, the ministry should bear the extra cost of that coal since the more economic alternative of Indian coal was already available in stoc

Centre extends mandate on coal import; blending to continue till March 2024

The ministry has invoked Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 again to direct all the ICBs with a cumulative capacity of 17 Gigawatt (Gw) to operate and generate power to their full capacity

NLC targetting 17 GW capacity by 2030, to invest Rs 82,700 cr: CMD

NLC India plans to invest Rs 82,700 crore by 2030 to scale up its power generation capacity capacity to 17 GW, the company's CMD Prasanna Kumar Motupalli said. Out of the 17 GW, 6 GW will be renewable-based capacity and the balance 11 GW from conventional sources, he told PTI in an interaction. "NLC is having a target of 17 GW by 2030. Based on that we have envisaged a capex of Rs 82,700 crore," Motupalli said in reply to a question on the ongoing and future investment plans of the company. At present, NLC has an installed power generation capacity of 6 GW which comprises 1.4 GW from green sources, the CMD said. The company has set a capex target of Rs 2,480 crore for the ongoing 2023-24 fiscal, he said adding NLC will achieve 80 per cent capex utilisation by December as the target set by the Ministry of Coal. Sharing the details of the ongoing projects he said a 3x660 MW thermal power plant is being set up at Ghatampur in Uttar Pradesh. The Rs 19,406 crore project is being set u

Domestic coal companies supply 500 million tonnes coal in H1 FY24

The ministry said as the rate of production and dispatch is normally higher than the first half of the year, the dispatch of coal would exceed the 1 billion tonne mark during this fiscal year

More than Rs 3.85 trillion spent on coal imports last year: Govt data

The country spent more than Rs 3.85 lakh crore on coal imports last year, the government said on Thursday. Though the share of coal import in total consumption came down from 26 per cent to 21 per cent in the last five years, India is importing more than 200 million tonnes (MT) of dry fuel every year, incurring huge foreign exchange outflow. "The goal of coal ministry is to enhance coal production to ensure adequate availability of coal for fast growing economy of the country. As a result of efforts of the ministry, the share of imports in total consumption reduced from 26 per cent to to 21 per cent during last 5 years," it said. Meanwhile, the ministry said it is deeply concerned about protecting forests and no coal mine has been auctioned by ignoring suggestions of the environment ministry. For example, it said, the plea of Chhattisgarh to de-notify coal mines falling under Lemru Elephant Corridor has been accepted. Areas beyond Lemru Elephant Corridor have also been considered

Coal dispatch may exceed one billion tonnes this fiscal: Coal ministry

The coal ministry on Thursday said the dispatch of coal is likely to exceed one billion tonnes in the current financial year. The coal ministry has set a target to produce and dispatch 1,012 million tonnes (MT) of coal to consumers during the ongoing fiscal. "During the second half of the year, the rate of production and dispatch is normally higher than the first half of the year. It is, therefore, expected that this year's dispatch of coal would exceed the one billion tonne mark," the coal ministry said in a statement. During the last financial year, coal dispatch of 500 MT happened as on November 9. During the current year, the 500 MT dispatch mark has been achieved 23 days in advance. "Achieving record high performance, the Ministry has been able to dispatch 500 MT coal as on October 17 2023. Dispatch of 500 MT of coal in 200 days, despite the monsoon season, in the first half of the year, is an outstanding achievement," it said. Out of 500 MT of coal dispatch, 416.57 MT has be

Global coal industry expected to layoff over 400,000 miners by 2035: Report

The coal industry is expected to shed more than four lakh mining jobs, equivalent to nearly 100 workers per day, by 2035, even without climate pledges or policies to phase out coal, with China and India likely to be the hardest hit, according to a new report. The primary reason will be the market shift toward cheaper wind and solar power generation and a lack of planning to manage a transition to a post-coal economy, said the report compiled by Global Energy Monitor, a US-based NGO that analyses the evolving international energy landscape. The report suggests that 9,90,200 coal-mining jobs will cease to exist at operating mines given the foreseeable closures of coal facilities, potentially laying off more than one-third (37 per cent) of the existing workforce. China and India are expected to be the hardest hit. China's Shanxi province would witness the largest number of job losses globally -- 2,41,900 by 2050 -- while Coal India is the producer facing the largest potential job cuts

Higher coal movement takes rail freight growth to 6.7% in September

Much of this growth was led by coal freight, which rose by 9.4 per cent to 59.7 mt in September, owing to higher coal demand at thermal power plants across the country

Rising domestic demand, higher volumes augur well for Coal India stock

India is seeing all-time high peak power and energy demand growth (21 per cent, 15 per cent YoY in Aug'23) and seeing increasing shortage during non-solar hours

India to burn 38% more coal every year with new plans for thermal power

About 3.5-4 MT of coal is used to generate 1,000 megawatt (MW) power at 65-75% plant load factor (PLF); with the new plan, total coal usage will increase by 38%

Building a war chest essential for continued expansion: JSW Infra CEO

"If the sector and location are favourable, and a growth opportunity exists, we do not mind putting a tick in the box"

Coal India to invest Rs 24,750 crore in 61 eco-friendly projects

CIL in 2021 had planned 35 FMC projects with a capacity of 414.5 MTPA. Out of these, currently 8 FMC projects of 112 MTPA capacity are already operational

73 thermal plants under 4 rounds of rationalisation of coal linkages

A total of 73 thermal power plants have been covered under the four rounds of rationalisation of coal linkages, an official statement said on Friday. Of the 73 Thermal Power Plants (TPPs), 58 belong to state/central gencos (generation companies) and 15 are Independent Power Producers (IPPs), the statement, released by the Ministry of Coal, said. "So far, four rounds of rationalisation of linkage have taken place, covering 73 TPPs," the statement said. The move has resulted in the rationalising of 92.16 Million Tonnes (MT) of coal, with a potential annual saving of about Rs 6,420 crore, the statement said. The government had introduced the rationalisation initiative to reduce the distance in transportation of coal from Coal Mines to consumers, thereby decreasing transportation costs and increasing efficiency in coal-based power generation. Coal India Ltd shall be the nodal agency for conducting the linkage rationalisation.

JSW Steel considers 75% interest in Teck's coal business 'Elk Valley'

The potential deal could value the business at $8 billion, said a report, rivaling an earlier bid by Swiss commodities giant Glencore