Decline in the Share of Imported Coal over the Last Decade | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Decline in the Share of Imported Coal over the Last Decade

Posted 29 Jun 2024

2 min read

As per Ministry of Coal, Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of imported coal share fell from 13.94% (2004-05 to 2013-14) to -2.29% (2014-15 to 2023-24).

  • Under Open General Licence: Coal can be freely imported by the consumers themselves considering their needs based on their commercial consideration. 

Measures taken to reduce coal import

  • Amendment of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957: to allow captive mines to sell up to 50% of their annual production.
  • Foreign Direct Investment(FDI): 100%  FDI allowed for commercial mining. 
  • Coal Area Expansion: Taking up new projects and expansion of existing projects,auction of coal blocks to private companies/PSUs,etc.
  • Single Window Clearance portal: for the coal sector to speed up the operationalization of coal mines.

Challenges of Coal Mining

  • Non availability of domestic production of high grade coals like coking coal, anthracite and low ash thermal coal, etc in India.
  • Non-Payment of commensurate Coal value along with huge outstanding dues by Power Sector consumers.
  • Un-seasonal and extended Rainfall in the coal bearing areas.

About Coal Sector in India

  • Fifth-largest coal reserves in the world and stands as the second-largest consumer of coal.
  • All India Production of coal during 2023-24 was 997.25 MT.
  • Occurs in rock sequences mainly of two geological ages, namely Gondwana and tertiary deposits.
    • About 80 percent of the coal deposits in India is of bituminous type and is of non-coking grade.
    • Over 97 percent of coal reserves occur in the valleys of Damodar, Sone, Mahanadi and Godavari.
  • Gevra coal mine of Chhattisgarh became the largest coal mine last year.(Earlier Jharia was the largest coal field)
  • Tags :
  • coal import
  • coal
  • Gevra coal mine
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