Lok Sabha Question No. 2745 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Domestic Coal Production
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Locket Chatterjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2745

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2021

## Domestic Coal Production

## 2745.  MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE :

## Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  current  domestic  production  of  coal  is  adequate  to  meet  the markets of the country;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  shortfall,  if  any,  in  satisfying  the requirements of coal, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government is taking any measures for boosting the availability of coal for meeting the energy needs of the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b): In  2020-21,  all  India  coal  production  was  716.084  Million  Tonnes (MT)(provisional).  There  was  a  huge  coal  stock  at  Coal  India  Limited  (CIL) and Thermal Power Plants end as per details given below:-

(in MT)

| Date       |   CIL Stock |   Stock at Power House end |
|------------|-------------|----------------------------|
| 01.04.2020 |       74.89 |                      44.95 |
| 01.04.2021 |       99.12 |                      28.66 |
| 28.07.2021 |       56.03 |                      23.78 |

- (c)  &  (d): The  following  action  has  also  been  taken  by  Government  to  further enhance the production of the coal in the country:
- i.  Launch  of  Commercial  Auction: Auction  of  commercial  mining  on  revenue sharing  mechanism  from  5  coal  bearing  states  (Jharkhand,  Madhya  Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Chhattisgarh) was launched on 18.06.2020. During this round  of  auction,  20  coal  mines  with  aggregate  peak  capacity  of  59  MTPA  were successfully  auctioned. Second  Tranche  of  auction  for  commercial  mining  was launched  by  Ministry  of  Coal  on  25.03.2021.  In  the  second  Tranche,  a  total  of 67coal mines/blocks were offered.  Further to cater to the demand of the coking coal consumers, 6 coking coal mines have been put on offer. The cumulative PRC for the fully explored mines on offer has been estimated at 150 MTPA.
- ii. Concept  of  Rolling  Auction: In  order  to  expedite  the  process  for  conducting auction and to carry out more rounds of auction in a year, a mechanism of rolling auctions of coal mines has been planned.  Under this mechanism, upon completion of the electronic auction process of a tranche (i.e. approximately 3-4 months from

the launch of auction process), the next tranche of auction would be launched for following mines: a. Mines where no bid or only single bid was received in the previous tranche of auction  (except  for  those  mines  where  Ministry  of  Coal  decides  to  go  for  second attempt of auction)

- b. New mines, if any, identified by Ministry of Coal

iii.  Engagement  of  PMU: Project  Management  Unit  (PMU)  has  been  engaged  by Ministry  of  Coal  for  handholding  of  coal  block  allottees  for  obtaining  various approvals  /clearances  for  early  operationalisation  of  coal  mines  allocated  under CMSP Act, 2015.

iv.  Launch  of  Single  Window  Clearance: The  Union  government  has  launched Single Window Clearance portal for the coal sector to speed up the operationalisation of coal mines. It is an unified platform that facilitates grant of clearances and approvals required for starting a coal mine in India.

v. The MMDR Act has been amended in March, 2021 which, inter alia, allows all captive  mines  to  sell  up  to  50%  of  the  minerals  produced  during  the  year  after meeting the requirement of attached plant.

vi. Coal  India  Ltd.  has  envisaged  a  coal  production  programme  of  one  Billion Tonne from CIL mines by the year 2023-24.  CIL has taken the following steps to achieve the target of augmentation of coal production capacity:

1. Implementing on-going projects in time bound manner to achieve targeted production as per schedule.
2. Introduction  of  Surface  Miners  in  Open  Cast  (OC)  mines  to  improve operational efficiency and cater to environmental needs.
3. Introduction of Mass Production Technology in underground coal mines.
4. 15 Projects identified with a Capacity of about 160 MTPA (Million Tonnes per Annum) to be operated by Mine Developer cum Operator mode.
5. Capacity  addition  through  special  dispensation  in  Environment  Clearance under clause 7(ii) of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 2006
6. CIL  has  taken  steps  to  upgrade  the  mechanized  coal  transportation  and loading system under 'First Mile Connectivity' projects.

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