New Delhi, March 9 Domestic coal production is expected to grow by 6-7 per cent annually over the next few years, reaching about 1.5 billion tonnes by 2029-30, Parliament was informed on Monday.
The country's demand for coal is expected to continue rising and is projected to peak around 2040, Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
The Minister informed the House that "There is no scenario of transitioning away from coal that would impact workers and communities associated with coal mining in the short and medium term.
India is currently increasing its domestic coal production to meet the country's growing energy needs.
To meet the future demand for coal from domestic sources and to reduce non-essential coal imports, domestic coal production is expected to grow by 6-7 per cent annually over the next few years, reaching about 1.5 billion tonnes by 2029-30, the Minister stated.
In 2024-25, India's coal production stood at approximately 1,047.69 MT, he said.
However, the sector also faces several challenges, Reddy said.
The rapid growth of renewable energy sources, with the declining cost of solar and wind power, has resulted in the accumulation of coal stocks at pitheads, he said.
Besides the depletion of reserves at shallow and medium depths, and techno-economic viability issues in extracting coal beyond a depth of 300 meters, there are also challenges related to land acquisition and taking physical possession of land due to authentication issues with land records and resistance from landowners.