Coal Ministry Holds Stakeholders Consultation on Accelerating Domestic Coal Production

Ministry of Coal

Coal Ministry Holds Stakeholders Consultation on Accelerating Domestic Coal Production

Posted On: 17 MAR 2026 6:04PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Coal organized a high-level Stakeholder Consultation on “Accelerating Domestic Coal Production in Light of Policy Reforms” today, bringing together senior government leadership and key stakeholders from across the coal sector to deliberate on strategies for enhancing domestic coal production, faster mine development and operationalization for strengthening India’s energy security.

The occasion was graced by Union Minister of Coal & Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy as the Chief Guest. Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, provided strategic guidance and led the discussions with clarity and purpose, reflecting the Ministry’s reform‑driven and stakeholder‑centric approach. Senior officials from the Ministry of Coal, private sector participants, industry experts, and other stakeholders from the coal ecosystem participated in the deliberations.

Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of Coal & Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy emphasized that India must go beyond incremental reforms to achieve the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Highlighting the guiding mantra of “Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform,” he underscored the need for continuous and comprehensive reforms across the entire coal value chain, including exploration, auctions, clearances, operations, financing with special focus on scientific mine closure. He stressed that bottlenecks must be systematically removed to enhance production, improve supply efficiency and ensure seamless functioning from mine development to closure.

The Minister also highlighted the importance of regular stakeholder consultations as a vital platform for incorporating feedback and suggestions, assuring that the Government remains committed to engaging with stakeholders in a responsive and inclusive manner. He emphasized the need to promote coal gasification, leveraging India’s abundant coal reserves, and noted that private sector participation in coal production is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. Reiterating the Government’s commitment to energy security, he called for fast-tracking coal production through coordinated efforts and sustained policy support.

In his opening remarks, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, stated that as India moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, sustained policy-driven reforms have significantly transformed the coal sector into a more transparent, competitive and efficient ecosystem. He noted that these reforms have strengthened ease of doing business, enhanced regulatory clarity and created an enabling environment for faster growth and development across the sector.

He further highlighted that landmark initiatives such as commercial coal mining, Single Window Clearance System and digital reforms have played a pivotal role in advancing national objectives. These measures have strengthened institutional frameworks, empowered and encouraged greater private sector participation, and accelerated mine operationalisation and efficient resource extraction. He also underlined that these efforts are contributing towards reducing import dependence, fostering industry collaboration and advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Smt.Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal made a presentation on ‘Policy Reforms & Accelerating Domestic Coal Production’. Smt Brar noted that the coal production from Captive and Commercial mines have first time crossed 200MT in this Financial Year. Smt Brar also highlighted that the coal production from captive and commercial mines have grown at a CAGR of nearly 30% from FY 2021 to FY 2025.

Smt Brar also informed the stakeholders about the policy reform undertaken by the ministry of coal for early operationalisation of mines. She noted that various reforms were introduced to ease Exploration & Preparation of GR, Quicker approval of Mining Plan, Simplification of the process of environmental clearance and forest clearance and mine opening permission. Smt Brar gave detailed accounts of each reforms. The presentation also emphasized measures to promote underground coal mining, focusing on incentivisation, technological adoption and improved operational efficiency, with a view to ensuring sustainable and efficient utilisation of coal resources.

The forum was then open for an interactive session, where stakeholders exchanged their views. The consultation served as a platform for constructive dialogue among policymakers, industry representatives, and sector experts to discuss the evolving policy framework, operational challenges, and opportunities for accelerating coal production. The discussions concluded with a collective emphasis on strengthening collaboration between government and industry, promoting innovation in mining practices, and ensuring effective implementation of policy reforms to support the long-term growth and sustainability of India’s coal sector.

The consultation provided a constructive platform for stakeholders to exchange views and align efforts towards the shared objective of accelerating domestic coal production, reducing reliance on imports, and reinforcing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the energy sector. The deliberations reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to building a modern, efficient and future-ready coal sector capable of meeting India’s rising energy requirements while ensuring sustainable and responsible mining practices.

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Shuhaib T

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