Lok Sabha Question No. 468 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Percentage of Energy Produced from Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Jayant Sinha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 468 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2020

## Percentage of Energy Produced from Coal

## 468. SHRI JAYANT SINHA:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) the  projected  nation-wide  percentage  consumption  of  energy  produced  from coal with respect of other renewable energy sources in the next five years;
- (b) whether the Government is importing low-ash coal for energy production and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps taken to promote coal production in the country to meet the growing energy demand?

## Answer

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a): According  to  the  National  Electricity  Plan  notified  in  2018,  the  All  India installed capacity is likely to be 479,419 MW in 2021-22 which inter alia consists of 217,302 MW of coal based capacity and 175,000 MW of RE based capacity. The installed capacity is likely to be 619,066 MW in 2026-27 which inter alia consists of238,150 MW of coal based capacity and 275,000 MW of RE based capacity.
- (b): As  per  the  current  import  policy,  coal  is  kept  under  Open  General  License (OGL) and consumers are free to import coal from the source of their choice as per their contractual prices on payment of applicable duty. Coal imported by power plants  designed  on  imported  coal  and  high  grade  coal  required  for  blending purposes  are  imported  in  the  country  as  this  cannot  be  fully  substituted  by domestic coal. However, with enhanced domestic availability of coal, coal imports by power plants have fallen from 91.3 MT in 2014-15 to 61.66 MT in 2018-19.
- (c): Steps  taken  up  for  growth  in  coal  sector  which  are  expected  to  result  in enhanced coal production.
1. Methodology for allowing allocatees of coal mines for specified end use or own consumption to sell upto 25% of actual production in open market (RoM basis) with payment of additional premium on such sale has been approved  by  CCEA  on  19.02.2019  and  order  has  been  issued  on 07.03.2019.  Under  this  methodology,  10  mines  have  been  allocated  in the year 2019.
2. Mineral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, has enabled the allocation of  coal  blocks  for  composite  prospecting  license-cum-mining  lease  (PLcum-ML) which will  help  in  increasing  of  the  inventory  of  coal/  lignite blocks for allocation.

-  With the promulgation of Mineral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, the  repetitive  and  redundant  provision  requiring  previous  approval  of Central Government  even in cases where the allocation or reservation of coal/ lignite block has been made by the Central Government itself has been done away with.This would significantly reduce the time taken for operationalisation of  coal/ lignite mines.
-  Earlier, the mines in Schedule II and III of Coal Mines Special Provision (CMSP) Act  could  only  be  auctioned  to  companies  that  are  engaged  in specified end use. With the promulgation of Minerals Laws (Amendment) Ordinance,  2020  has  provided  flexibility  to  the  Central  Government  in deciding the end use of Schedule II and III coal mines under the CMSP Act.This would allow wider participation in auction of Schedule II and III coal mines, for a variety of purposes such as own consumption, sale or for any other purpose, as may be specified by the Central Government.
-  Sections 4(2) and 5(1) of the CMSP Act and Section 11A of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act have been amended now clarifying  that  any  company  selected  through  auction/  allotment can carry on coal mining operation for own consumption, sale or for any other purposes, as may be specified by the Central Government allowing wider  participation  and  competition  in  auction.  Thus,  the  companies which do not possess any prior coal mining experience in India can now participate in auction of coal blocks.

## 3.      CIL has started the process of:

-  Opening  of  55  greenfield  projects  having  capacity  of  92  MTPA  and expansion of 193 brownfield  projects having capacity of about 310 MTPA in the next five years.
-  Portal based monitoring of  on-going projects to ensure timely completion of projects.
-  Introduction of  state-of-the-art technology to improve its work efficiency with high capacity Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM), like 42 cum Shovel  and  240 T Rear Dumpers  in  Gevra  Expansion,  Dipka  & Kusmunda open cast mines.
-  Introduction of Surface Miners in opencast mines to improve operational efficiency & to cater to environmental needs. During 2018-19, around 50% of the opencast coal  production in CIL was through Surface miners.
-  Introduction of IT enabled Operator Independent Truck Dispatch System (OITDS) in 11 mines of CIL.
-  Introduction of Mass Production Technology in underground coal mines, 2  mines  are  worked  with  Powered  Support  Longwall  technology  and  9 mines are worked with Continuous Miner technology.
-  For rapid coal evacuation, 19 nos. Coal Handling Plants with silos and rapid loading system having existing capacity of 152.5 million tonnes are in operation.