Govt targets to enhance coal production to 140 MT by 2029-30

The Ministry of Coal said it has finalised an Action Plan Document for the year 2022-23 which broadly focuses on 15 crucial areas.

The focus areas include Grey Hydrogen; Just Transition/ Energy Transition; Restructuring Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation. (CMPFO); Coal evacuation; Benchmarking of Machines & Quantifiable Parameters (Output per hr/per machine); Outsourcing of Coal India Ltd. (CIL) Mines; Coal Trading Platform; Regulatory Mechanism for coal; Training; Corporate Restructuring of Coal Sector (CPSEs); Quality Issues; Lignite Gasification; Coking Coal Strategy; Coal Pricing Reforms and Futuristic Agenda.

The Futuristic Agenda includes- Coal to Chemical: Syn Gas, Hydrogen Gas, Liquid fuels, Chemicals and fertilizers, CIL - diversify its business and explore prospects in sunrise industries electric charging pods, EVs etc., acquisition and mergers of similar or new business after due diligence, media campaigns and close monitoring of CSR activities.

This is for the second time that an Agenda document for the year has been brought out in the form of a compilation and provided to all senior functionaries who have been apportioned the responsibility of steering these focus areas through the year with regular monitoring and appraisals.

The areas covered step up the major reforms done in the last few years and also give direction for covering and meeting the existing and the emerging challenges of the Coal Sector and aligns itself well with the emerging technologies and diversification thrust of the Coal Sector.

The Action Plan covers the entire gamut of areas for steering the coal sector into new technologies while focussing on the core competence of increasing production targets. Coking Coal Mission had been launched by the Ministry for enhancement of coking coal production from 45 Million Ton in 2020-21 to 140 MT by 2029-30 which includes 105 MT from Coal India Limited, the ministry said. (ANI)