FY27 output target 1.4 billion tonnes, need for power plants noted: Coal Ministry
coal ministry on Monday said the coal production target for 2026-27 is 1.4 billion tonnes and for 2029-30 it is 1.58 billion tonnes.
The production target for this financial year remains at marginally over 1 billion tonnes, which the ministry had earlier projected. Fuel to be supplied to domestic coal-based power plants is around 821 million tonnes for this fiscal.
The ministry has taken note of the additional coal requirement for supplying to the planned 80 GW thermal power capacity which is to be added by 2030, it said.
The coal requirement for additional thermal power capacity would be around 400 million tonnes at 85% plant load factor.
The actual requirement may be lower, depending on the generation requirements in the future due to contributions from renewable sources, the ministry said.
The production plan includes opening of new mines, expansion of mines capacity and production from captive and commercial mines. All these three operational components are contributing and have clear plans for further enhancement.
The ministry aims to produce additional quantities of coal and to ensure adequate availability to thermal power plants.
As regards the current coal situation, stocks have started building up, the ministry said.
Coal stock at the thermal power plants is now around 20 million tonnes, while at the mines it is 41.59 million tonnes.
The total stock, including in transit and at captive mines, is 73.56 million tonnes, as compared to 65.56 million tonnes a year ago.
Commercial coal auction
The ministry will launch the eighth round of auctions for commercial coal mines on November 15, with a total of 35 mines on offer. Fourteen of the offered mines are fully explored and 21 are partially explored.
