Coal Policy

Coal India, IIT Hyderabad to set up CoE for clean coal and net-zero tech

In a step towards enhancing research capabilities in the coal and energy sector, the Coal India Ltd and IIT Hyderabad on Friday joined hands to establish a Centre of Excellence for Clean Coal Energy and Net Zero. Coal India Ltd CMD P M Prasad and IIT Hyderabad Director B S Murty signed an MoU here in this regard in the presence of Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy. As per the understanding, the Coal India Ltd would fund the centre with an initial grant of Rs 98 crore. Speaking on the occasion, Reddy said the joint initiative underscores India's commitment to developing advanced clean coal technologies and promoting the sustainable utilisation of coal resources in alignment with its net-zero commitments. Observing that the Coal Ministry has prioritised the development of research capabilities in the coal sector, he said the National Centre for Coal and Energy Research (NaCCER) has been established at Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) in Ranchi. A decisio

India extends production mandate for imported coal-fired power plants

The extension of the mandate is due to high demand for electricity in the country, the order stated

Trump pumps coal as answer to AI power needs but boost may be short-lived

President Donald Trump's promise to go all in on fossil fuels includes praise for coal, a reliable but polluting energy source that's long been in decline. Trump this week suggested coal can help meet surging electricity demand from manufacturing and the massive data centres needed for artificial intelligence. Nothing can destroy coal. Not the weather, not a bomb nothing," Trump told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, by video link Thursday. And we have more coal than anybody. Yet energy experts say any bump for coal under Trump is likely to be temporary since natural gas is cheaper and there's a durable market for renewable energy no matter who holds the White House. It's kind of been shown over the last three administrations even the president of the United States can't change markets, the trend for coal," said University of Wyoming economics professor Rob Godby. "It might lead to a reprieve." Here's a look at the outlook for coal during Trump's second term: WILL

Year 2025 to transform coal sector with first exchange, gasification & more

India's coal production is set to increase by 8 to 10 per cent in the coming years, driven by growing electricity demand and increased contributions from captive mines

J'khand initiates process for legal action to realise coal dues from Centre

The Jharkhand government initiated the process for legal action to realise "Rs 1.36 lakh crore coal dues" from the Centre. The government issued a notification on Tuesday authorising Secretary, Revenue, Registration and Land Reforms to commence the legal procedure to realise the dues. The development came shortly after the state government announced in its first cabinet meeting last month that it would take legal action to get its dues. "Secretary, Revenue, Registration and Land Reforms is nominated as nodal officer to initiate immediate legal action to realise Rs 1.36 lakh crore dues from the Centre. "In case of obstacles in payments by subsidiaries of Coal India in lieu of washed coal royalty dues, common cause dues etc, steps should be taken to resolve this in consultation with the Advocate General," the notification said. Chief Minister Hemant Soren, too, had said after being sworn in last month that legal action would be initiated to realise the dues. Earlier, he had request

CIL to supply coal beyond normative requirement to non-regulated sector

State-owned CIL on Thursday said it will supply coal beyond the normative requirement to the non-regulated sector, including steel. The decision, taken on November 13, will be applicable tranche VIII linkage auction onwards, which is scheduled to begin soon. Coal India, which accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal production, has tweaked the policy provision to permit coal supplies beyond the annual contracted quantity (ACQ) to non-regulated sector (NRS) customers in long-term linkage auctions. Earlier, in NRS linkage auctions, end user plants were allowed to obtain linkages up to their normative requirement. The standard norm to calculate the requirement is the quantity of coal that a plant will need if it operated at 85 per cent of its installed capacity for a whole year. The actual supply of coal through linkage auctions was up to this determined quantity. Any customer seeking above 85 per cent of the ACQ had to step off the auction process to procure coal. Enabling s

Govt directs utilities to procure $33 bn equipment for coal power boost

The unprecedented move by the government will help add 31 gigawatts (GW) in the next 5-6 years

China, India moderate imports of thermal coal, North Asian buyers strong

India has ramped up electricity generation in recent months as a strong economy and an ongoing heatwave boost demand for power

Govt to name bidders of first round of strategic mineral blocks on Monday

The government on Monday will declare the names of the bidders who have won the blocks in the first round of critical and strategic mineral blocks auction. The preferred bidders will be declared during the launch of the fourth round of auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks. "During the event, preferred bidders of the first tranche launched on November 29, 2023 will be declared," the mines ministry said in a statement. Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy and Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey will launch the fourth round of auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks here. So far, the Centre has launched three tranches of auction of 38 critical and strategic mineral blocks located across 14 States and Union Territories. The government had earlier cancelled the auction for 13 of the 20 blocks put on sale in the first tranche of critical minerals as the response was lukewarm. Of the 20 blocks put on offer, 56 physical bids and 56 on

India set to register biggest jump in coal-fired power in a decade

The world's most populous nation expects to add 15.4 gigawatts in the year through March 2025, the most in nine years

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

CoalMin plans to unlock domestic coking coal availability via several steps

Union min G Kishan Reddy holds 1st review meeting of coal, mines ministries

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has reviewed both the coal and mines ministries after taking charge. "Held a detailed review meeting of the Ministry of Mines ( @MinesMinIndia) in New Delhi," he said on Friday in a post on X (formerly known as twitter). Reddy on Thursday took charge as coal and mines minister and said that India should increase domestic production of the fossil-fuel and reduce coal imports. The minister of state for coal and mines Satish Chandra Dubey and other officials of the mines ministry were also present during the meeting. In another post, the minister said, "Chaired 1st review meeting of the Ministry of Coal after taking charge in New Delhi." Reddy on Thursday told reporters that India should increase domestic coal production and reduce import of fossil fuel. India's coal import rose by 7.7 per cent to 268.24 million tonnes (MT) in FY '24. Reddy further said 10 years ago there was a coal shortage in the country and due to this there was also a shortage of ..

Coal dependency, climate dilemma to hang over PM Modi in his third term

PM Modi will need to balance green ambitions against a need to sustain growth and satisfy rapidly accelerating electricity demand, leaning on a fraying power system still heavily dependent on coal

India's coal import surges 8% to 268 MT in FY24 due to rise in power demand

India's coal import rose by 7.7 per cent to 268.24 million tonne (MT) in FY24 driven by softness in seaborne prices and likelihood of increase in power demand during summer. The country's coal import was 249.06 MT in FY23, according to data compiled by B2B e-commerce company mjunction services. Coal import in March FY24 also rose to 23.96 MT, over 21.12 MT in the corresponding month of the previous fiscal. Of the total volume recorded in March 2024, non-coking coal import stood at 15.33 MT, against 13.88 MT in March FY23. Coking coal import in March 2024 was 5.34 MT against 3.96 MT a year ago. During FY24, non-coking coal import was at 175.96 MT, higher than 162.46 MT imported during FY23. Coking coal import was at 57.22 MT in 2023-24, against 54.46 MT in 2022-23. "There was an increase in coal import volumes due to the continued softness in seaborne prices and expectation of a demand uptick during the summer season. However, as there is ample availability of domestic coal in the

G7 commits to coal phaseout with caveats, may influence G20 and COP29 talks

Experts warn richer nations may pressure developing countries to meet green targets

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

China's March coal output drops 4.2% amid oversupply, weak demand

Averaged out against expected production increases by some other provinces, China's total output will be about 1 per cent higher in 2024, an industry group has forecast

Coal fuels India's power demand as growing economy crushes green hopes

Electricity consumption in India is growing at the fastest rate of any major economy, driven by rising temperatures and incomes, which have pushed up sales of power-intensive appliances like ACs

Coal India likely to report production of around 773.7 MT in FY24

Coal India Ltd is likely to report production of around 773.7 million tonnes (MT) for the 2023-24 fiscal, which will be close to a 10-per cent growth over last year, company sources said. However, it is expected to fall short of the target of 780 million tonnes. Coal offtake is expected to stay restricted to 753 million tonnes, nearly 90 per cent of the target of 780 million tonnes, they said. The miner will announce its production and offtake numbers later on Monday. The company's dry fuel supplies to thermal power plants touched the 610.8-million tonne mark on Wednesday, surpassing the target for this sector. Coal India Chairman P M Prasad in a recent investor concall projected a shortfall in the wake of some land-related production hurdle in South Eastern Coalfields Ltd. All other subsidiaries, however, topped its targets. The largest coal producer in the world registered its highest-ever production of 703.2 MT in the 2022-23 fiscal. The target for the next fiscal year has be

Inter-ministerial committee pitches for higher tax on coal imports

Recommends rationalising GST compensation cess on coal