Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Pralhad Joshi, has reassured that India will not face any coal shortage this year, even during the monsoon season. Speaking at a conference on underground coal mining, the Minister stated that the government is fully prepared to meet the country’s coal demand.
Pralhad Joshi assured the nation on behalf of Coal India and the Coal Ministry that there will be no shortage of coal during the monsoon. He emphasized that the preparations are well in place and it is their responsibility to meet the entire demand this year.
According to the Minister, there are currently 35 million tonnes (MT) of coal available at thermal power plants, while 65 MT is stocked at the pit heads of Coal India and private miners. Additionally, 10-12 MT of coal is in various stages of transportation.
Regarding the movement of coal, Pralhad Joshi mentioned that the Ministry is closely coordinating with the railways to ensure the smooth transportation of coal from pit heads to required locations.
During the event, the Minister also unveiled Coal India’s ‘UG Vision Plan’, which outlines the roadmap for achieving a production target of 100 MT from underground mines by the fiscal year 2028. Currently, Coal India produces approximately 28 MT of coal from underground mines, with its subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (SECL) contributing 11.5 MT from its 45 underground mines, as confirmed by SECL official Sanish Chandra.
With this reassurance from the Minister, India can be confident in its coal supply during the monsoon season and beyond. The focus on underground coal mining and the long-term production goals outlined in the ‘UG Vision Plan’ demonstrate the government’s commitment to meeting the nation’s energy requirements.
