'Coal export strategy in works; local lithium hunt gains pace'

The Centre will devise a strategy to tap export markets for Indian coal as domestic production sets new records, Union minister of parliamentary affairs, coal and mines Pralhad Joshi said.

- Rituraj Baruah & Subhash Narayan

In an interview, Joshi said India already exports around 2 million tonnes (mt) of coal to its neighbours. He said that after the recent lithium finds in Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has begun six projects on lithium investigation in Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Jammu & Kashmir, and Andhra Pradesh. Edited excerpts:

The Centre has set a target of making India a net exporter of coal. What is your roadmap for that, and which markets are you looking at?

India exports coal of about 2 mt to neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Several measures have been initiated to increase domestic coal production. According to the projection of demand and supply of coal, India will produce more coal than total demand beginning from 2025-26. This enhanced domestic coal production will enable not only to meet domestic coal demand but also give surplus coal for export. Accordingly, a strategy will be adopted to tap marketing avenues.

We aim to become Aatmanirbhar in coal by enhancing production, efficiency and sustainability. With a record coal production of 893.08 mt in FY23, registering a growth of about 14.76%, annual coal production is targeted at 1.12 billion tonnes in FY24. This growth has come due to the steps taken in the past nine years by the government.

Will India be able to curb imports of coal going ahead?