Government initiatives drive coal supply and power generation growth

Inter-Ministerial collaboration and exploration initiatives boost coal supply, strengthening power sector resilience and expansion.

The total amount of coal consumed over the years 1983–1984 to 2022–23 increased by around 753 percent, from 130.73 MT in 1983–1984 to 1115.02 MT.
Coal is continuously supplied to the power plants. to deal with the problems with coal supply to the power sector. An inter-ministerial sub group made up of representatives from the ministries of power, coal, railways, central electricity authority, coal India limited, and singareni collieries company limited, meets on a regular basis to make operational decisions to improve the supply of coal to thermal power plants and to address any unforeseen situations pertaining to the power sector, such as alleviating the critical coal stock position in power plants.

Besides, an inter-ministerial committee has also been constituted, comprising the chairman of the railway board, the secretary of the ministry of coal, the secretary of the ministry of environment, forestry, and climate change, and the secretary of the ministry of power, to monitor the augmentation of coal supply and power generation capacity. secretary, ministry of new and renewable energy, and chairperson, CEA, are co-opted as special invitees as and when required by the IMC.

Finding new areas for mining coal and lignite through exploration is a continuous process. there is one sub-scheme, i.e., promotional (Regional) exploration, continuing through the central sector scheme of the ministry of coal for exploration of new areas of coal and lignite. In addition to this, the geological survey of India also carries out investigations into minerals, including coal.