Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the achievement as a “proud moment” for India, underscoring the country’s commitment to energy security and self-reliance.
“Crossing the monumental milestone of 1 billion tonnes of coal production is a remarkable achievement, highlighting our commitment to energy security, economic growth, and self-reliance,” Modi said in a post on X. He credited the coal sector workforce for their role in reaching this target.
India, which produced 997.83 million tonnes of coal in 2023-24 (April 2023 to March 2024), now joins China as the only countries to exceed 1 billion tonnes in annual output.
Coal remains India’s primary energy source, powering electricity generation and several key industries.
Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy, who officially announced the milestone today, said India has not only ramped up production but has also focused on sustainable mining. “This achievement will fuel our increasing power demands, drive economic growth, and ensure a brighter future for every Indian,” Reddy said.
With summer setting in, power demand has already begun rising across the country. As of yesterday, coal stocks at power plants stood at 49 million tonnes, sufficient for 21 days of consumption.
Under its Coal Action Plan for FY25, the government has set a production target of 1,080 million tonnes. While India continues to import coal to meet peak summer demand, the government aims to achieve self-sufficiency in coal by 2026 through increased domestic output and expansion of renewable energy sources.
The country’s peak power demand for 2025 has been projected at 273 GW. To mitigate reliance on coal and reduce exposure to volatile global prices, the government has been accelerating investments in renewable energy.
(Edited by : Sheersh Kapoor)
