Coal production in India crosses 1 billion tonne milestone in FY25

ANI April 4, 2025 150 views

India has achieved a significant milestone by crossing one billion tonnes of coal production in fiscal year 2024-25. The remarkable growth is attributed to the dedicated efforts of Coal Public Sector Undertakings and private sector players across more than 350 coal mines. Simultaneously, the country has reduced coal imports by 8.4%, saving billions in foreign exchange and demonstrating improved energy self-sufficiency. Despite the global push for renewable energy, coal is expected to remain a critical component of India's energy strategy, contributing 55% to the national energy mix by 2030.

"These coal miners, who have defied numerous challenges with unmatched dedication, have played a pivotal role in achieving this historic milestone" - Ministry of Coal
New Delhi, April 4: India achieved a historic milestone as it crossed one billion tonnes of coal production on March 20 in 2024-25, surpassing last fiscal year's 997.83 million tonnes (MT).

Key Points

1

India reaches 1.04 billion tonne coal production in 2024-25

2

Coal sector sees 4.99% growth with PSUs and private players

3

Imports reduced by 8.4%, saving $5.43 billion

4

Coal remains critical to national energy mix at 55%

With the fifth-largest coal reserves and as the second-largest consumer, coal remains crucial, contributing 55 per cent to the national energy mix and fuelling over 74 percent of total power generation.

According to the Ministry of Coal, the coal sector's success is attributed to the tireless efforts of Coal Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), private players, and the dedicated workforce of around 5 lakh mine workers across more than 350 coal mines.

"These coal miners, who have defied numerous challenges with unmatched dedication, have played a pivotal role in achieving this historic milestone," the ministry said in a statement.

India's coal production reached 1.04 billion tonne (provisional) in 2024-25, compared to 997.83 MT in 2023-24, marking a 4.99 per cent growth.

Production from commercial, captive, and other entities also saw a remarkable surge, reaching 197.50 MT (Provisional)--a 28.11 per cent increase from the previous year's record of 154.16 MT.

Coal production refers to the extraction of coal from mines.

Coal dispatch has also crossed the one billion tonne milestone, with total dispatch reaching 1024.99 MT (Provisional) in 2024-25, up 5.34 per cent from 973.01 MT in 2023-24.

Dispatch from commercial, captive, and other entities witnessed an even more significant rise, reaching 196.83 MT (Provisional)--a 31.39 per cent increase compared to 149.81 MT in the previous year.

Coal dispatch refers to the process of transporting and distributing that coal to various consumers, including power plants and industrial facilities.

Parallely, the Indian coal sector achieves a notable reduction in imports.

Coal imports fell 8.4 per cent to 183.42 MT in April- December 2024 from 200.19 MT in the same period of 2023-24, saving USD 5.43 billion (Rs 42,315.7 crore) in foreign exchange.

Coal is vital to India's energy needs, supplying over half of the country's power. Despite renewable energy growth, coal-based thermal power will remain essential, with its share projected at 55 per cent by 2030 and 27 per cent by 2047.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
This is a huge achievement for India's energy security! Kudos to all the miners and workers who made this possible. 👏 We need to keep supporting our domestic coal industry while also investing in cleaner technologies.
P
Priya M.
While this milestone is impressive, I hope we're not losing sight of our renewable energy goals. The 55% energy mix figure worries me - we need to accelerate solar and wind adoption faster. The coal industry should help fund this transition.
A
Amit S.
My father worked in coal mines for 30 years. These numbers represent the blood and sweat of thousands of workers. Happy to see their efforts being recognized! 💪
S
Sunita R.
The reduction in imports is the real win here - saving billions in foreign exchange while creating domestic jobs. This is how we build a self-reliant India! 🇮🇳
V
Vikram J.
Interesting stats! The 28% growth in commercial/captive production shows private sector is stepping up. Hope this leads to more efficiency and better mining practices across the board.
N
Neha P.
As someone from a coal mining region, I wish the article mentioned more about worker safety measures and environmental protections. Production is great, but not at any cost.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Coal Production India Energy Sector Ministry of Coal Coal PSUs Energy Milestone
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