Coal India is projected to touch the 1 billion tonne production mark in 2025-26. The public sector miner has produced 773.65 million tonnes mt) in 2023-24 and is looking to produce 838 mt in 2024-25. By 2028-29, production is projected to reach 1090 mt.

“As part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, India aims to increase efficiency, enhance productivity and ensure sustainable coal production to meet the country’s energy needs while reducing reliance on imports. We have set an ambitious coal production target of 1 billion tonnes by FY2025-26,” Coal India said in its annual report for 2023-24.

The public sector miner highlighted several steps that is expected to keep the production on track. These include introduction of single window clearance for coal projects, utilisation of mine development operator mode for production and expanding existing mines and opening new mines.

The measures include mechanising and modernising both under ground and open cast mines, obtaining additional environmental clearances of up to 50 per cent through special dispensation, improvement in coal evacuation capacity through implementation of first mile connectivity projects and rail lines, among others.

Coal India said it is advancing 119 coal projects with a sanctioned capacity of 896 million tonnes per year and a sanctioned capital of ₹133,576 crore. “These projects are at various stages of implementation, as part of our proactive approach to increasing production capacity and meeting future coal demands,” the annual report said.