India's coal production set to nearly double by FY30

livemint.com:

New Delhi: The coal ministry has unveiled an ambitious plan to almost double India's coal production by fiscal 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 7.7%. In FY23, key coal-producing states, including Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and segments of Madhya Pradesh, played a pivotal role in contributing a staggering 75% of India's total raw coal despatch, the ministry said. The need for increased coal production to sustain this momentum and power the nation's growth trajectory is evident.

To meet this formidable challenge, the ministry of coal has embarked on a multi-pronged approach, which includes the promotion of Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) transportation. This innovative multimodal system is poised to revolutionize coal movement within India, with a strong focus on enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and optimizing logistics. A key development in this initiative is the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) featuring representatives from the ministry of power, ministry of railways, and ministry of ports, shipping, and waterways.

This high-powered committee is tasked with devising a comprehensive, long-term strategy for coal transportation across the nation. Presently, railways constitute a substantial 55% of coal evacuation, a figure that the Ministry of Coal aims to elevate to 75% by FY30. The ministry's commitment to expanding coal evacuation and diversifying evacuation routes to alleviate congestion has resulted in a series of measures aimed at promoting RSR as a primary mode of coal evacuation.