New Delhi, April 2 State-owned CIL has reported its first sales growth in six months for March, reflecting a build-up of coal stocks before peak summer demand amid gas shortages due to the West Asia conflict.
Coal India (CIL) accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal production.
The coal sales by CIL increased by 0.7 per cent to 69.5 million tonnes (MT) in March, according to provisional data from the coal giant.
Coal sales declined by 1.5 per cent in February, 4.7 per cent in January, 5.2 per cent in December, 0.3 per cent in November, 5.9 per cent in October, and 1.1 per cent in September, CIL said.
In August, coal sales grew by 7.6 per cent, it added.
The PSU contributes to 75 per cent of total coal-based power generation. CIL contributes to 55 per cent of the total power generation and meets 40 per cent of the country's primary commercial energy requirements.
CIL's production dropped by 1.7 per cent to 768.1 MT in the recently concluded fiscal year 2025-26.
The company produced 781.1 million tonnes (MT) in fiscal year 2024-25.
According to provisional data from CIL, the output in March dropped to 84.5 MT from 85.8 MT in the year-ago period.
The company's role is central to energy security, especially as coal still accounts for roughly 70 per cent of India's power generation, even amid rapid growth in renewables.
CIL is taking an initiative to increase its capacity to beneficiate coking coal.
The PSU aims to increase coal production to one billion tonnes by 2028-29 to reduce dependence on coal imports and meet domestic demand.