Coal imports: The nation needs coal for the next 30 to 40 years to keep its energy security, the Union Minister for Coal and Mines Prahlad Joshi stated on Wednesday.
The minister emphasized that the government intends to lower the percentage of coal imports to 2% in the upcoming fiscal year and to zero in the fiscal year 2025–2026.
According to Meena, “the country’s share of coal imports has decreased from 26% in 2019–20 to 21% in the current fiscal.” In order to lessen reliance on imports, we are also improving the ability to wash domestic coal and coking coal, he continued.
the minister stated;
Speaking to the crowd at the ninth coal block auction tranche, the minister stated, “We will need to produce more coal to cater to the rising demand for power.”
In the most recent round of the coal auction, the coal ministry has put up 26 coal blocks, of which seven have been fully explored and 19 have been partially explored. With its most recent coal mine auction, the government hopes to increase the involvement of more private companies in the coal industry.
According to coal secretary Amrit Lal Meena, the coal blocks from the states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have been placed under the ninth round of bidding. A Telangana mine and five mines from Jharkhand have also been put up for auction.
Five coal mines, including four under the CMSP (Coal Mines Special Provisions) Act and one under the MMDR (Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act), are also being offered under the second try of round 7 of commercial coal, the government stated. Four of these have been thoroughly investigated, while one has only been partially.
To facilitate the involvement of participants in the auction, the government has eliminated eligibility requirements and limitations on the coal sale or use.
“The coal ministry has introduced a Single Window Clearance System (SWCS) portal aimed at facilitating business processes. This initiative is designed to provide a streamlined platform for securing multiple clearances, expediting the commencement of operations in coal mines,” stated the government.
India’s power consumption is expected to increase from 240 GW to 335 GW by 2030, and the country will continue to rely on coal to meet this growing need. Additionally, the government has changed its original intention to raise the nation’s coal-fired capacity from 51 GW to approximately 80 GW by 2030.
