Coal Ministry Aims to Produce 1,404 Million Tonnes of Coal by 2027
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th Nov. The Ministry of Coal has set a target to produce 1,404 million tonnes (MT) of coal by 2027 and 1,577 MT by 2030. Currently, the annual production level is around one billion tonnes. The ministry has supplied approximately 821 MT of coal to domestic coal-based power plants this year.
The Ministry of Coal has recognized the need for additional coal to meet the demand for an additional 80 GW of thermal capacity that will be added to the country by 2030. The estimated coal requirement for this additional capacity is around 400 MT at 85% PLF (Plant Load Factor), but the actual requirement may be lower due to contributions from renewable energy sources.
In order to meet the demand, the Ministry of Coal has planned to increase coal production and ensure sufficient availability for thermal power plants. This plan includes opening new mines, expanding existing mines, and producing coal from captive/commercial mines.
The production targets for 2027 and 2030 will exceed the expected domestic requirement for thermal power plants, including the additional capacity.
As for the current year, coal stocks have started to accumulate, with 20 MT at thermal power plants and 41.59 MT at mines. The total stock, including transit and captive mines, is 73.56 MT, showing a 12% growth compared to last year.
The Ministries of Coal, Power, and Railways are working closely together to ensure smooth coal supplies. It is worth noting that the lowest stock level for thermal power plants this year was on October 16, 2023, and since then, stocks have been increasing. Power generation from domestic coal-based plants has grown by 8.99%, while coal production has increased by 13.02% on a yearly basis. Additionally, the demand for thermal power has grown by over 20% in the last three months compared to last year.
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