Synopsis
The Ministry of Coal has announced a supply plan for 906.1 million tonnes of coal to the power sector for FY 2025-26, ensuring adequate coal availability and continuous monitoring by various ministries and coal companies. The government remains focused on increasing domestic coal production while promoting sustainable practices in line with environmental commitments.Key Takeaways
- Supply plan of 906.1 million tonnes of coal for 2025-26.
- Current coal stock at 53.49 MT sufficient for 20 days.
- Coal production for 2024-25 is 929.15 MT, up from 881.16 MT.
- Record coal production of 997.826 MT in 2023-24.
- Government promoting sustainable coal mining practices.
New Delhi, March 17 (NationPress) The Coal Ministry has outlined a plan for supplying 906.1 million tonnes (MT) of domestic coal to the power sector for the fiscal year 2025-26, as per the communication from the Ministry of Power regarding the energy needs for that year, the Parliament was informed on Monday.
Currently, the availability of coal in the country is satisfactory. According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the coal inventory at domestic coal-fired power plants was 53.49 million tonnes (MT) as of March 10, 2025, compared to 44.51 MT on the same day last year, indicating a growth rate of 20.20 percent. This amount of coal is adequate for approximately 20 days at an 85 percent plant load factor (PLF), Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, reported to the Rajya Sabha in a written statement.
In the current fiscal year 2024-25, the country has produced a provisional total of 929.15 MT of coal (up to February 2025), compared to 881.16 MT during the same period last year, reflecting a growth rate of 5.45 percent, the minister noted.
The government remains focused on enhancing domestic coal production to satisfy the nation's energy demands. The year 2023-24 marked a record in coal output, with total production reaching 997.826 MT, up from 893.191 MT in 2022-2023, showcasing an increase of approximately 11.71 percent, he added.
The flow of coal to power plants is an ongoing process, with coal companies continuously monitoring supply. An Inter-Ministerial Sub-Group, which includes representatives from the Ministries of Power, Coal, and Railways, the CEA, Coal India Limited (CIL), and the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), convenes regularly to make operational decisions aimed at boosting coal supply to thermal power stations, Reddy stated.
Moreover, an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been established, comprising the Railway Board Chairperson, the Coal Secretary, the Secretary of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Power Secretary, to oversee the enhancement of coal supply and power generation capabilities. The Secretary of New and Renewable Energy and the CEA Chairperson are included as special invitees to the IMC as needed, he noted.
In response to another query, the minister mentioned that aligned with India’s Panchamrit and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments, the Ministry of Coal is advancing sustainable coal mining and aims to lower the carbon footprint. The coal public sector undertakings (PSUs) are actively working to reduce the environmental impact of coal mining through ongoing reclamation and afforestation efforts in the areas surrounding their operational mines.
Additionally, coal PSUs are engaging in extensive planting initiatives under the Green Credit Programme launched by the Ministry of Environment, enhancing mechanized coal transportation and loading systems, and utilizing modern, environmentally-friendly equipment such as surface miners and continuous miners in coal mining, which minimizes the need for drilling, blasting, and crushing operations, thereby reducing pollution. Rippers are also being employed for blast-free removal of overburden in certain mines.
Furthermore, coal PSUs have begun commissioning Renewable Energy power projects and are exploring various clean coal technologies, including coal gasification and coal bed methane (CBM), he added.
