Union Minister Pralhad Joshi calls upon stakeholders to strive toward reducing coal imports

Union Minister for Coal Pralhad Joshi has said that the government has taken a number of reforms in the last eight years to make the coal sector more competitive. He said, the government is providing incentives to coal mine owners if they start early production of coal after the allocation of coal blocks.

The Minister stated this after inaugurating the 1st National Coal Conclave and Exhibition in New Delhi.Theme of the Conclave was- Indian Coal Sector - Sustainable Mining Towards Atmanirbhar Bharat. Mr Pralhad Joshi said that during the year 2021-22, the country's coal sector has achieved a record production of 772 million tonnes of coal registering a growth of 8.5 percent.

The Minister also informed that a total of 75 coal blocks have



been allocated with a peak rated capacity of 327 million tonnes and out of them 42 coal blocks are operational. The Union Minister added that the fourth tranche of coal auction has been completed and the fifth tranche of coal auction is in process. The Minister also called upon all the stakeholders to strive towards reducing the coal imports.

At the National Coal Conclave, Mr. Joshi also launched the second tranche of closed and discontinued mines of Coal India. He said, after re-operationalisation, these mines will further enhance India's overall coal production. On the occasional agreement for 10 coal mines was also signed that were auctioned during earlier tranches. In these mines, Coal production will soon start.