Coal Ministry, announced plans to increase coal production 1,404 mn tonnes FY2027
Tuesday, 14 November 2023, 16:19 IST
The Ministry of Coal has announced its plans to significantly increase coal production in India. They aim to produce 1404 million tonnes (MT) of coal by 2027 and a staggering 1577 MT by 2030. Currently, coal production stands at about one billion tonnes per annum. The Ministry has taken into account the additional coal requirement for supplying an additional 80 GW of thermal capacity to be added in the country by 2030. This would require around 400 MT of coal at an 85 percent PLF. However, the actual requirement may be lower depending on the generation requirements in the coming times due to contributions from renewable sources.
The Ministry of Coal has put forth a production enhancement plan that aims to increase the coal output, ensuring an adequate supply of domestic coal to thermal power plants. The plan involves the opening of new mines, expansion of existing ones, and production from captive/commercial mines. All three operational components are contributing to this plan, with further enhancement strategies in place. The production plans for 2027 and 2030 will exceed the likely domestic requirement of thermal power plants in the country, including the likely additional capacity.
Regarding the coal situation for the current year, stocks have already begun to build up. The current coal stock at the thermal power plants stands at around 20 million tonnes, while at the mines, it is 41.59 million tonnes. With transit and captive mines included, the total stock is 73.56 million tonnes, which is 12% more than last year's total stock of 65.56 million tonnes. The Ministries of Coal, Power, and Railways are working together in close coordination to ensure smooth coal supplies. It should be noted that the lowest thermal power plant stock for this year was recorded in October 2023. However, the stock building at thermal power plants and mines has since begun to rise. The growth in power generation for domestic coal-based plants is 8.99%, while the growth in coal production is 13.02% on a yearly basis. Furthermore, demand for thermal power has increased by over 20% compared to last year's demand in the last three months.
The Ministry of Coal has put forth a production enhancement plan that aims to increase the coal output, ensuring an adequate supply of domestic coal to thermal power plants. The plan involves the opening of new mines, expansion of existing ones, and production from captive/commercial mines. All three operational components are contributing to this plan, with further enhancement strategies in place. The production plans for 2027 and 2030 will exceed the likely domestic requirement of thermal power plants in the country, including the likely additional capacity.
Regarding the coal situation for the current year, stocks have already begun to build up. The current coal stock at the thermal power plants stands at around 20 million tonnes, while at the mines, it is 41.59 million tonnes. With transit and captive mines included, the total stock is 73.56 million tonnes, which is 12% more than last year's total stock of 65.56 million tonnes. The Ministries of Coal, Power, and Railways are working together in close coordination to ensure smooth coal supplies. It should be noted that the lowest thermal power plant stock for this year was recorded in October 2023. However, the stock building at thermal power plants and mines has since begun to rise. The growth in power generation for domestic coal-based plants is 8.99%, while the growth in coal production is 13.02% on a yearly basis. Furthermore, demand for thermal power has increased by over 20% compared to last year's demand in the last three months.
