Coal’s Continuing Role in Energy Security
Delivering the keynote address, Shri G. Kishan Reddy underlined that coal remains an indispensable pillar of India’s energy security even as the country advances toward a cleaner energy mix. He noted that coal continues to provide reliable base-load power and supports critical industries such as steel and cement, making it central to economic growth and national development.
The Minister highlighted that India achieved its highest-ever coal production of over 1,047 million tonnes in FY 2024–25, reflecting improved operational efficiency, capacity creation and strong coordination across the value chain.
Focus on Standardisation, Safety and Sustainability
Shri Reddy stressed that reforms across the coal sector must be anchored in uniformity and standardisation to ensure consistent practices and predictable outcomes across all public sector undertakings. He called for time-bound action plans to improve equipment utilisation, asset productivity and operational efficiency.
Emphasising that safety is non-negotiable, the Minister urged strict enforcement of safety norms, stronger supervision and accountability, with the objective of achieving zero accidents. He also highlighted the importance of community welfare initiatives in coal-bearing regions, focusing on health, education and livelihood support.
Reduced Imports and Emerging Export Potential
The Union Minister noted that steady growth in domestic coal production and improved logistics have led to a significant reduction in coal imports, particularly for blending, resulting in substantial foreign exchange savings. He observed that domestic availability is increasingly meeting national demand.
With growing confidence in production capacity and supply-chain resilience, India is approaching a stage where selective coal exports may be explored while fully safeguarding domestic requirements.
Call for Faster Execution
Shri Reddy urged that the outcomes of the Chintan Shivir must cascade to all levels of organisations for faster and coordinated execution. He called upon coal PSUs to move decisively from deliberation to delivery and set higher benchmarks in productivity, safety, sustainability, innovation and community engagement.
MoS Highlights Technology and Accountability
Addressing the gathering, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey stated that the Chintan Shivir reflects the Ministry’s commitment to outcome-oriented governance and long-term vision-building. He emphasised the need to strengthen washery capacities to improve coal quality and better meet consumer requirements.
The Minister underlined the importance of institutionalising accountability by deploying designated officers for monitoring each mine block. He also stressed expediting First Mile Connectivity projects to enhance mechanisation, logistics efficiency and competitiveness.
Shift from Policy to Performance
In his opening remarks, Coal Secretary Shri Vikram Dev Dutt said that with policy clarity and institutional reforms in place, the focus must now shift decisively to delivery and measurable outcomes. He asserted that delays and underperformance are no longer acceptable.
He emphasised technology adoption as non-negotiable, calling for real-time monitoring, digital platforms and data-driven decision-making to become standard practice across the coal value chain.
Thematic Sessions and Capacity Building
The Chintan Shivir featured multiple thematic sessions on reforms, cost optimisation, exploration, early mine operationalisation, coal quality improvement, underground mining and competitiveness in commercial mining. Each session focused on identifying bottlenecks and evolving actionable solutions.
During the event, the Union Minister also inaugurated a newly constructed Executive Hostel at the Indian Institute of Coal Management in Ranchi, strengthening training and capacity-building infrastructure for the sector.
Looking Ahead
The deliberations underscored the need to convert discussions into disciplined execution and clearly measurable outcomes. As India moves toward the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the coal sector stands at a defining phase of enhanced capacity, resilience and competitiveness.
With clear direction and collective responsibility, the coal sector is well positioned to reinforce national energy security while contributing responsibly to sustainable growth.
