Lok Sabha Question No. 2373 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-16
Subject: Coal Stock  for Non Power Sector
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Sarmistha Sethi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2373

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2022

## Coal Stock for Non Power Sector

## 2373. SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI:

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

- (a) whether there is no sufficient buffer stock of coal for non-power sectors in India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of steps taken by the Government to ensure adequate supply of coal to both power sector and non-power sectors?

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

- (a) and (b): The total coal supply to Non power sector in 2021-22 (upto January, 2022) from various sources was 264.138 Million Tonnes (MT) with a growth of about 3.4 % against the supply of coal 255.5 MT during the same period the last year. The source wise details is given below:

(Figures in Million Tonnes)

| Company/Year   |   2020-21* |   2021-22 * |
|----------------|------------|-------------|
| CIL            |     105.62 |     101.69  |
| SCCL           |       5.77 |       9.48  |
| Captive        |       2.56 |       2.378 |
| Import         |     141.55 |     150.59  |
| Total          |     255.5  |     264.138 |

*Provisional

- (c): The following action has been taken by Government to further enhance the production and supply of coal in the country:
- i. Commercial Auction of coal on revenue share mechanism: Auction of commercial mining on Revenue Sharing Mechanism was launched on 18.06.2020 by Hon'ble  Prime Minister. Under  this scheme,  total of 2  tranches  have  been successfully completed and third Tranche is currently under process. From these two tranches total of 28 coal mines have been successfully auctioned for which Vesting order have in signed for 27 coal mines.
- ii. Allow sale of excess coal production : The Ministry of Coal has amended Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 with a view to allowing sale of coal or lignite, on payment of additional amount, by the lessee of a captive mine up to 50 percent of the total coal or lignite produced in a financial year, after meeting the requirement of the end use plant linked with the mine.  The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act had been amended in 2021. This is applicable for both the private and public sector captive  mines.  With  this  amendment,  the  Government  has  paved  the  way  for releasing of additional coal in the market by greater utilization of mining capacities of captive coal and lignite blocks,which were being only partly utilized owing to limited production of coal for meeting their captive needs.
- iii. Rolling  auction :  In  order  to  expedite  the  process  for  conducting  auction  and  to carryout 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,  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.

In the current III tranche of commercial auction, total of 48 coal mines have been rolled over from the II tranche of mines.

- iv. Single  Window  Clearance : The  Union  government  has  already  launched  Single Window  Clearance  portal  on  11.01.2021  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.  Now,  the complete process shall be facilitated through Single Window Clearance Portal, which will map not only the relevant application formats, but also process flow for grant of approval or clearances.
- v. Coal  India  Ltd.  has  envisaged  a  coal  production  programme  of  one  Billion  Tonne from  CIL  mines.   CIL  has  taken  the  following  steps  to  achieve  the  target  of augmentation of coal production capacity:
1. 15  Projects  identified  with  a  Capacity  of  about  160  MTPA  (Million  Tonnes  per Annum) to be operated by Mine Developer cum Operator mode.
2. Capacity  addition  through  special  dispensation  in  Environment  Clearance  under clause 7(ii) of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 2006
3. CIL  has  taken  steps  to  upgrade  the  mechanized  coal  transportation  and  loading system under 'First Mile Connectivity' projects.

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