Captive mines boost: India looks to export coal next fiscal
The coal ministry expects India’s thermal coal output to rise significantly in the next fiscal year, with production from captive coal mines set to increase from around 45 milion tonne (mt) in the current financial year to 130 mt in 2022-23. This could release some ‘linkage coal’, allowing Coal India (CIL) to tap export markets, coal secretary, AK Jain said.
India hardly exports coal now; CIL’s sales abroad are limited to certain despatches to Bangladesh and Nepal. Speaking at a conference here, he said the prospects of surplus coal production in FY23 look bright despite the fact that electricity demand could grow by 6% in 2022-23.
