Measures Being Taken To Eliminate Coal Imports By 2023: Minister For Coal And Mines Prahlad Joshi 

Stressing upon the continued need for coal for electricity generation, Union Minister for Coal and Mines Prhalad Joshi has said that efforts are on to end the country’s dependence on coal imports.

Despite the push for renewable energy, the country will require a baseload capacity of coal-based generation for stability, the minister said. The government is opening new mines, expanding the capacity of existing mines and creating new infrastructure to ramp up the domestic coal production he added.

To increase the country’s domestic coal production capacity, Coal India Limited alone is poised to commission 11 new coking coal washeries in a phased manner to meet the total demand of washed domestic coking coal of steel sector, the minister informed.

Currently, coal occupies 55 per cent share in primary energy supply and about 75 per cent in electricity generation. The domestic coal production from the current level of 730 MT is to be raised to 1149 MT by 2023 Joshi said.

The ministry is also trying to promote diversified use of coal such as the conversion of coal to synthesis gas and subsequent use of the latter to produce methanol or fertilizers.