The Ministry of Coal has outlined a reform package to raise domestic coal production and reduce dependence on coal imports. The measures matter because coal remains central to India’s power supply and industrial fuel demand, while coking coal dependence continues to affect the steel sector.
What the Ministry of Coal has announced
The Ministry of Coal has described a set of administrative, regulatory, and market-based steps intended to speed up coal block development and improve domestic supply.
Key measures
The announced measures include regular reviews by the Ministry of Coal to expedite coal block development, a Single Window Clearance portal for coal-sector approvals, and a Project Management Unit (PMU) to help allottees obtain clearances for early operationalisation.
The Ministry of Coal has also pointed to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021, which allows captive mine owners, other than atomic minerals, to sell up to 50% of annual mineral production in the open market after meeting the end-use plant requirement.
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