Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy said that reducing coal imports and increasing domestic production is the focus of the Coal Ministry.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi today, the minister said that the Coal Ministry is progressing on the path to achieving ‘Atmanirbharta’ in the coal sector. Mr. Reddy stated that the coal sector remains a cornerstone of India’s energy security and plays a vital role in the country’s industrial and economic growth.
During his address, the minister highlighted the Coal Ministry’s efforts to reduce reliance on imported coal. He said that between April and November 2024, coal imports declined by 5.35 percent, which helped save approximately 30 thousand crore rupees. With the fifth-largest geological coal reserves globally and as the second-largest consumer, coal continues to be an indispensable energy source for India.
It contributes to 55 percent of the national energy mix. The Ministry’s ‘Mission Coking Coal’ aims to increase domestic coking coal production to 140 MT by 2029-30 to reduce dependency on imports in the steel sector.