India recorded its highest-ever coal production in FY24, reaching 997.828 million tonnes, an 11.71 per cent increase from FY23. In Q1 FY25, India produced 247.396 million tonnes of coal, a 10.75 per cent increase from 223.376 million tonnes in the same period last year.
Several initiatives contributed to this growth. The Single Window Clearance portal expedited the operationalization of coal mines. Captive coal mines were permitted to sell up to 50 per cent of their annual production in the open market after fulfilling the requirements of linked power plants. The liberalization of commercial coal mining terms, with no restrictions on coal utilization, allowed new companies to enter the bidding process.
Coal India Limited (CIL), the world’s largest miner, adopted advanced technology to enhance output. Additionally, the Coal Ministry developed an Import Data System to track imports and ensure more domestic coal supplies.