India’s coal production grew 1.6% in April – November 2016

The Dollar Business Bureau

India’s coal production grew marginally at 1.6% to 391.10 metric tonnes during April – November 2016, the government said in its recent data. 

According to the data, the production of raw coal in the country during April-November of 2016-17 was 391.10 metric tonnes compared to 385.11 metric tonnes during the corresponding period of previous year. The overall growth in coal production during April- November 2016 was 1.6%. Lignite mining capacity of NLCIL is 30.6 million tonnes per annum as on November 30.   

In line with the last year’s coal mines auctions, the auction and allotment processes have been executed from 83 coal mines allocated so far and are estimated at over Rs.3.95 lakh crore over the mine/lease period. 

The total revenue generated from these coal mines as on October 2016 was Rs.2,779 crore (excluding royalty, cess and taxes).  

Meanwhile, reduction of electricity tariff from auction of nine coal blocks to electricity sector is likely to result in a total benefit of Rs. 69,310.97 crore.  

Coal Ministry has given special emphasis on decreasing imports of coal into the country. It saved about Rs.20,000 crore in 2015-16 and about Rs.4,844 crore during the first four months of the current fiscal on the country’s total coal imports bill.  

“The efforts on this front would lead to a further replacement of 15.37 MT of imported coal quantity by March 2017,” Coal Ministry said in a statement. 

In yet another move to enhance transparency and promote digital India in the sector, the ministry has fully implemented e-office application, and now the entire file-related work in the ministry is done electronically.  

“Digitisation process has brought transparency and efficiency in the working of the Ministry as it would facilitate quick processing and instant movement of files thus enabling seamless and fast decision making. It would also enable quick retrieval of files/records and prevent loss/misplacing of files/records,” the ministry said.