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Russia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Russia Today
India produced over a billion tons of coal in 2024-25
India has produced over a billion tons of coal in 2024-25, Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy said on Monday. The South Asian nation plans to increase production to 1.13 billion tons by 2029-30, he said in a written reply to a question in the upper house of parliament. Several initiatives have been announced by the government to increase domestic production, such as a single window clearance for new projects, amending regulations, technological improvements, expanding existing projects, and auctioning coal blocks for commercial mining, the website Moneycontrol cited Reddy as saying. India has already allowed 100% Foreign Direct Investment for commercial mining. The coal ministry has also sped up coal block development, in which captive mine owners can also sell excess coal in the open market. New Delhi has introduced a Coking Coal Mission to increase the supply of coking coal to the steel sector, with the goal of reducing reliance on imports. The country still imports coal, but only for specific needs, such as coking coal and higher-grade non-coking coal, which are not readily available in large quantities domestically due to limited reserves or lack of availability, Reddy added. India is dependent on coal for 70% of its electricity needs. Russia is one of India's major foreign suppliers of coal, accounting for 7.5% of its imports. New Delhi increased imports of Russian thermal coal to a two-year high of 1.3 million tons in May. India is also looking to produce 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen per year in the next five years. 'Changing to renewable energy will help in pollution reduction and at the same time bring down logistic costs,' Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said earlier this month
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Time of India
Coal scam: Delhi court acquits ex-coal Secretary HC Gupta, others
A Delhi court acquitted former Coal Ministry officials in a case concerning irregularities in the allocation of the Mahuagarhi coal block to M/s Jas Infrastructure Capital Pvt Ltd (JICPL). However, JICPL and its director, Manoj Kumar Jayaswal, were convicted of cheating and criminal conspiracy. The CBI successfully proved the case, marking the 19th conviction in coal scam cases. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A special court in Delhi on Friday acquitted former Coal Ministry officials, H C Gupta (Secretary), K S Kropha (Joint Secretary), and K C Samaria (Coal Allocation Director), in a case related to alleged irregularities in the allocation of the Mahuagarhi coal block in Jharkhand to M/s Jas Infrastructure Capital Pvt Ltd (JICPL).However, the court convicted the firm JICPL and its director, Manoj Kumar Jayaswal, holding them guilty under Section 120B read with Section 420 of the IPC, along with the substantive offence under Section CBI Judge Sanjay Bansal delivered the judgment, with arguments on sentencing scheduled for July 8, 2025. According to the CBI, this marks the 19th conviction in coal scam case was registered following a Preliminary Enquiry initiated based on a reference from the Central Vigilance Commission, investigating alleged corruption within the Ministry of Coal concerning the allocation of coal blocks to private companies during FIR alleged that JICPL and its director, Manoj Kumar Jayaswal, misrepresented and concealed facts in their application to obtain undue benefits in the allocation of the Mahuagarhi coal Supreme Court closely monitored investigations into coal block allocations, and after taking cognisance of the matter, the trial court summoned the accused. During the proceedings, the CBI examined 18 witnesses and successfully proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Hans India
02-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
India's coal production rises 3.4 per cent to cross 86 million tonnes in May
The overall coal production in India during May this year reached 86.24 million tonnes (MT), marking an increase of 3.4 per cent over the 83.96 MT produced in the same month of the previous year, according to a Coal Ministry statement issued on Monday. The coal production from captive and commercial Mines for the month of May 2025 has shown a strong performance. A total of 16.432 million tonnes (MT) of coal was produced during the month, which represents a robust growth of 24.57 per cent compared to May 2024. Along with production, coal dispatch jumped by 13.8 per cent to 17.5 million tonnes (MT) in May this year compared surpassing the corresponding figure for May 2024. The growth in both production and dispatch ensures a steady coal supply to important industries such as power, steel, and cement, the official statement said. As on May 31, the coal stock held by coal companies witnessed a strong double-digit growth of 29.18 per cent, reaching 122.69 MT, as compared to 94.98 MT during the same period of the previous year. This increase stands as a testament to the significant rise in coal production across the country, the official statement said. Additionally, during the month of May, three important clearances were obtained, including Stage-I and Stage-II Forest Clearances and Mining Lease execution for different coal blocks, the statement said. Moreover, vesting orders for six coal blocks were signed on May 29. These blocks are located in Chhattisgarh (2), Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh (one each), all under the 11th tranche of auction. The government has implemented several initiatives, including Commercial Coal Mining and Mission Coking Coal, to enhance domestic coal production and reduce imports. These efforts have led to India's coal imports declining by 7.9 per cent to 243.62 million tonnes (MT) during financial year 2024-25 due to the increase in domestic production of the fossil fuel, resulting in a massive saving in foreign exchange to the tune of $7.93 billion (Rs 60,681.67 crore) in the import bill, according to official data. The country had imported 264.53 MT of coal in the previous financial year.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt sees coal gasification as big step for cleaner fuels
New Delhi: The Ministry of Coal has stepped up efforts to promote coal gasification as part of the government's policy to switch to cleaner fuels , greener technologies, and a long-term vision for sustainable and inclusive growth. "Coal gasification transforms solid coal into syngas - a mix of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide - unlocking cleaner fuels, chemicals like methanol and ammonia, and reducing emissions," the Coal Ministry said on Tuesday. The Ministry sees coal gasification as "a step toward energy self-reliance and a cleaner industrial future" as it produces cleaner fuels, chemical feedstocks and lower emissions. Coal is one of the most abundant natural resources in the country. Coal gasification technology enables conversion of coal into syngas (synthetic gas), which can be used to produce downstream products like methanol, ammonium nitrate, synthetic natural gas (SNG) and fertilisers, etc. Coal gasification technology provides an alternative use of coal, promoting environmental sustainability to align with the vision of developed India 2047, a senior official said. The government has approved an outlay of ₹8,500 crore as financial incentive, for promotion of coal gasification projects for both government PSUs as well as private sector companies. Leading Maharatna public sector companies Coal India Limited and GAIL (India) Limited (GAIL) have signed a landmark joint venture agreement for setting up a Coal to Synthetic Natural Gas plant using surface coal gasification technology. The plant to come up in the Raniganj area of Eastern Coalfields Limited in West Bengal is expected to produce 80,000 Nm3 per hour of SNG. The annual production is slated at 633.6 million Nm3 per hour, which will require 1.9 million tonnes (mts) of coal to be supplied by Coal India Ltd (CIL). The synergy and partnership of the two corporate giants is a big step towards achieving the goals of the National Coal Gasification Mission, which facilitates the utilisation of the chemical properties of coal. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Coal announced that it has issued Letters of Award (LOAs) to applicants selected under Category II of the ₹8,500 crore Coal Gasification Incentive Scheme aimed at reducing the country's carbon emissions and strengthening energy security. Jindal Steel and Power Limited's 2MMTPA coal gasification project at Angul in Odisha, has been awarded ₹569.05 crore in financial incentives. The ₹3,793 crore project will convert coal into Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) through coal gasification while also setting up a carbon capture and utilisation plant designed to capture 30 TPD of CO2 for conversion into valuable products. New Era Cleantech Solution Private Limited has been given a financial incentive of ₹1,000 crore for its coal gasification project in Bhadravati, Chandrapur, Maharashtra. Greta Energy Limited has also been awarded ₹414.01 crore of financial incentive for its coal gasification project at Bhadravati with a total investment of ₹2,763 crore.
India Gazette
14-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
India cuts coal imports by over 9% in FY25, saving USD 6.93 billion in forex
New Delhi [India], May 14 (ANI): India's coal imports witnessed a sharp decline of 9.2 per cent during the April 2024 to February 2025 period, totaling 220.3 million tonnes (MT), down from 242.6 MT in the same period the previous fiscal year. This significant reduction translated into foreign exchange savings of approximately USD 6.93 billion (RS 53,137.82 crore), signaling a major stride toward energy self-reliance, the the Coal Ministry said. According to the Ministry, the drop was most pronounced in the Non-Regulated Sector, where imports fell by 15.3 per cent year-on-year. Notably, even as coal-based power generation rose by 2.87 per cent, imports for blending by thermal power plants plunged by nearly 39 per cent, underscoring the country's concerted push to curb its dependence on imported coal. The Government of India has implemented several initiatives, including Commercial Coal Mining and Mission Coking Coal, to enhance domestic coal production and reduce imports. These efforts have also led to an encouraging 5.45 per cent growth in coal output during the April 2024 to February 2025 period compared to the same period of FY 2023-24. India's coal sector plays a pivotal role in supporting its rapidly growing economy, with coal serving as a primary energy source for critical industries like power, steel, cement etc. However, the country faces a significant challenge in meeting its domestic coal demand, especially for coking coal and high-grade thermal coal, which are in short supply within the country's reserves. As a result, coal imports have been vital to meet the needs of key sectors, including steel. The Ministry of Coal has been implementing strategic measures to strengthen domestic production and ensure a secure coal supply, aligning with India's goals of reducing coal imports and enhancing energy security. By prioritizing domestic coal output, the government aims to march ahead towards Viksit Bharat goal by building a self-reliant, sustainable energy framework that supports long-term economic growth, the Coal Ministry added. (ANI)
