New Delhi: Coal India Limited (CIL), the country’s largest coal miner, has set its sights on producing 1 billion tonnes (BT) of coal by FY2026–27. Announcing this during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy outlined the ambitious trajectory of India’s coal sector in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
CIL achieved a provisional output of 781.07 million tonnes (MT) in FY2024–25, up slightly from 773.81 MT in the previous fiscal. The firm now plans to scale up to 875 MT in FY2025–26 and cross the 1-BT mark the following year. By FY2030, production is targeted to reach a staggering 1,131 MT.
Domestic Production to Hit 1.5 BT by 2030
India’s total coal production rose to 1,047.67 MT in FY25, a 4.99 percent jump over 997.83 MT in FY24. With an expected annual growth of 6–7 percent, domestic coal output is projected to touch 1.5 billion tonnes by FY2029–30.
The Centre has reiterated its focus on meeting most of the country’s coal demand indigenously, with imports restricted to essential coking coal and high-grade non-coking coal due to limited availability at home.
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Driving Growth Through Technology and Efficiency
Minister Reddy said that Coal India is embracing mass production technologies (MPT) such as Continuous Miners in underground mines, and developing highwall and large-capacity underground operations. Advanced equipment is also being introduced in opencast mines to enhance productivity and ensure safety.
In parallel, the Ministry of Coal has launched a Coking Coal Mission to strengthen domestic supply for the steel sector and cut down import dependency. Other key steps include ramping up the Annual Contracted Quantity (ACQ) for power plants and implementing an Import Monitoring System to track and reduce non-essential coal imports.
About Coal India Limited
Coal India Limited (CIL) is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Coal. As the world’s largest coal-producing company, CIL is responsible for over 80 percent of India’s coal output. The company plays a pivotal role in powering the nation’s energy needs and is at the forefront of adopting sustainable and tech-driven mining practices to meet rising demand while reducing environmental impact.
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