Intensification of coal production in India with 13 new mines

India is stepping up its energy independence with the award of 13 commercial coal mines, with the aim of increasing domestic production and reducing imports.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90€/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90€/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 €/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99€/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 €/year from the second year.

India recently finalized the allocation of 13 commercial coal mines in its eighth and ninth rounds of auctions, with the aim of increasing domestic production and minimizing dependence on imports. These mines, eight of which are for thermal coal and five for coking coal, are located in key states such as Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Madhya Pradesh is home to the highest number of allocated mines.

Launch of coal auctions

Since 2020, the auction process for commercial coal mines has resulted in the award of 104 mines, with a cumulative production capacity announced at 226 million tonnes per year. Producers can now sell mined coal to any buyer, thus facilitating distribution, while sharing a portion of the revenues with the respective state governments.

Impact on production and shipments

For fiscal year 2023-24, coal production from captive and commercial mines saw a significant increase, up 27.06% year-on-year to 126.8 million tonnes. This 29.14% increase in coal shipments reflects the impact of the auctions on the country’s coal supply. India recorded a total production of 880.72 million tonnes of coal during this period, marking a year-on-year increase of 12.14%.

Operational challenges and import dependency

On the other hand, only a few of the awarded mines are currently in operation, due to lengthy approval processes and difficulties with foreign financing. The persistent gap between domestic production and growing demand underlines the need for imports to meet the country’s energy needs.

India aims to produce 1.1 billion tonnes of coal by the end of the current fiscal year, with plans to increase production to 186.63 million tonnes in the next fiscal year, and to reach 383.56 million tonnes by 2030. These targets aim to gradually reduce the share of coal imports, thereby improving India’s energy self-sufficiency while meeting the challenges posed by ever-increasing energy demand.

Queensland coal producers are struggling to rein in costs, which remain above pre-2022 levels as the impact of royalty hikes and margin pressures continues to weigh on the sector.
Coal will temporarily become the main source of electricity in the Midwest markets MISO and SPP during winter, according to the latest federal forecasts.
The Trump administration plans to open millions of federal hectares to coal and ease environmental rules governing this strategic industry.
The integration of private operators into South Africa’s rail network marks a turning point for coal exporters, with a target of 55 million tonnes exported in 2025 from the Richards Bay terminal.
Facing Western restrictions, Russia plans to increase coal deliveries to China, India and Turkey, according to a recent presentation on the sector’s outlook.
The visit of the Pakistani president to Shanghai Electric marks a new strategic phase in China-Pakistan energy cooperation, centred on the Thar mining and power project and local skills development.
Port congestion in Australia has boosted Russian and Indonesian coal exports to South Korea, with both now dominating the market due to lower prices and reliable delivery schedules.
Polish state-owned producer JSW confirms its 13.4 million tonnes production target for 2025 thanks to new equipment coming online, despite recent disruptions at multiple sites.
Russia and Indonesia overtook Australia as South Korea's top thermal coal suppliers in August, driven by lower prices and more reliable logistics amid persistent Australian shipment delays.
Uniper has demolished cooling tower F at its Scholven power plant, marking a new stage in the dismantling of the Gelsenkirchen coal site, where the energy company plans to build a hydrogen-ready gas-fired plant.
Underreported methane emissions from Australian mines could increase steelmakers’ carbon footprint by up to 15%, according to new analysis highlighting major gaps in global supply chains.
The new Russian railway line linking the Elga mine to the Sea of Okhotsk port will reach full capacity in 2026, after an operational testing phase scheduled for 2025.
The Romanian government is asking the European Union for a five-year delay on the closure of 2.6 gigawatts of coal capacity, citing delays in bringing gas and solar alternatives online.
President Gustavo Petro bans all coal exports to Israel, a decision with minor energy effects but strong diplomatic weight, illustrating his anti-Americanism and attempts to reshape Colombia’s domestic politics.
India’s coking coal imports are rising and increasingly split between the United States and Russia, while Australian producers redirect volumes to China; 2025 results confirm a shift in trade flows.
China approved 25 GW in H1 2025 and commissioned 21 GW; the annual total could exceed 80 GW. Proposals reached 75 GW and coal’s share fell to 51% in June, amid declining imports.
Valor Mining Credit Partners completes its first major financing with a secured loan to strengthen the operational capacity of a U.S. mining site.
Amid tensions on the Midwest power grid, Washington orders the continued operation of the J.H. Campbell plant to secure electricity supply over the coming months.
Peabody Energy abandons the acquisition of Anglo American’s Australian coal assets, triggering an arbitration process following the failure of a post-incident agreement at the Moranbah North mine.
Core Natural Resources announces USD220.2mn in operating cash flow for the second quarter of 2025, while revising its capital return strategy and increasing post-merger synergies.