India's coal production registered a 7.2 percent year-on-year growth in November 2024, reaching 90.62 million tonnes (MT), compared to 84.52 MT in the same month last year, according to provisional data released by the Coal Ministry. This growth reflects the country’s focus on meeting its increasing energy requirements.
Production from captive and other entities saw a substantial rise, recording 17.13 MT in November 2024, marking a 37.69 percent increase from 12.44 MT in November 2023. This surge highlights the contribution of non-state entities in boosting coal production across the country.
For the FY 2024-25 up to November, coal production reached 628.03 MT, reflecting a 6.21 percent growth from 591.32 MT during the same period last fiscal year. Alongside this, coal dispatches also recorded growth, rising to 85.22 MT in November 2024, up from 82.07 MT in November 2023, marking an increase of 3.85 percent.
Dispatches from captives and other entities grew by 25.73 percent, reaching 16.58 MT compared to 13.19 MT in the corresponding month of 2023. Cumulative dispatches for the fiscal year up to November totaled 657.75 MT, up by 5.45 percent from 623.78 MT last year, showing a steady increase in coal availability and distribution.
CIL’s Contribution to India’s Coal Growth
Amid the overall growth, Coal India Limited (CIL), the state-owned leader in coal production, saw its coal output rise by 2.4 percent to 471 MT in the April-November period of FY 2024-25, up from 460 MT in the same period last year. CIL remains a dominant player in the coal sector, accounting for over 80 percent of India’s domestic coal production.
In November 2024, CIL produced 67.2 MT of coal, a 1.7 percent increase from 66 MT in the same month of the previous year. The company also reported a 1.5 percent increase in coal offtake in the April-November period, totaling 492.6 MT, up from 485.2 MT last year.
Despite this growth, CIL did not meet its production target for FY 2023-24, falling short by 7 MT - producing 773.6 MT instead of the targetted 780 MT.
Government Initiatives for Coal Production
Coal Ministry has relaunched discontinued mines under a Revenue Sharing Model to optimise the country’s coal resources. This initiative aims to increase domestic coal availability and ensure efficient use of existing coal resources.
Moreover, CIL has adopted sustainable practices across its coal and lignite mines, including plantation and bio-reclamation, mine water utilisation for community use, and the creation of eco-parks. These initiatives, alongside measures to improve energy efficiency, reflect the sector's commitment to environmental sustainability in coal mining operations.
The continued rise in coal production and dispatches in India, led by both state-owned entities like CIL and non-state players, demonstrates the country's concerted efforts to meet its growing energy demands.
