India Eyes 1.5 Billion Tonne Coal Production By 2030

India is planning to increase its annual coal production to 1.5 billion tonnes by 2030 to meet its increasing fuel demand.

“By 2030, we will attain coal production of 1.5 billion tonnes," Union Minister of State for Coal Raosaheb Danve Patil said at an investor conclave in Mumbai on Thursday (1 December).

The conclave was organised by the Coal Ministry to boost the bidder participation in the commercial coal mining auctions.

Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also attended the event.

Danve also said that the coal sector has the responsibility to not only produce power, but also protect the environment.

Addressing the event, Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi said that India's coal requirement has been increasing.

"Our total dispatch in 2013-14 was 572 million tons, last year it was 817 million tonnes, this year it will be 900 million tonnes. Despite this, domestic production will not be able to fulfil full coal demand," the minister said, according to a Coal Ministry release.

While the total domestic coal production will be 1 billion tons, the total demand would be 1,300-1,400 million tonnes, he added. 

As the country is aiming to become self-reliant in coal sector, deliberations are in progress on how the country can perform sustainable coal mining, said Coal Minister.