India is making substantial strides toward achieving energy self-sufficiency by setting ambitious targets to drastically reduce coal import dependency. The aim is to bring down coal imports to a mere two percent in the upcoming financial year and eliminate them entirely by 2025-26.
The government, while launching the ninth round of commercial coal mine auctions, underscored the pivotal role of coal in ensuring India’s energy security, emphasising that the country will rely on coal for the next 30-40 years. Notably, measures have already been implemented to reduce coal imports, resulting in a decrease from 26% in 2019-20 to 21% in the current fiscal year.
To further curb import dependency, efforts are underway to enhance washing capacity for both coking and domestic coal. These initiatives align with the government’s broader plan to elevate its coal-fired power capacity to approximately 80 GW by 2030, a substantial increase from the previously planned 51 GW.
As reported by ETEnergyworld.com, in a bid to encourage participation in coal block auctions, the government has eliminated eligibility criteria and restrictions on coal sale or utilization. Furthermore, the introduction of a Single Window Clearance System (SWCS) portal is set to streamline the process of obtaining various operational clearances for coal mines.
