India's coal output crosses a billion tonnes in 2024-25

In a significant milestone, India crossed the record annual coal output of 1 billion tonnes (bt) on Thursday to hit 1.03 bt, constituting a 5.24 per cent uptick over the total production of 953.3 million tonnes in 2023-24.

- PUJA DAS & SHREYA JAI

The landmark that comes days ahead of this financial year's end, was driven by a 1.3 per cent rise in Coal India's output, albeit on a large base, along with a substantive 29 per cent growth in the production of the energy-laden sedimentary rock by privately owned captive and commercial coal mines.

While Coal India Limited (CIL) has contributed 0.75 bt to the coal kitty so far this year, private mines have produced 0.18 bt.

The balance came from Singareni Collieries Co Ltd, a joint venture owned by the Telangana government and the Centre, whose output is about 2.7 per cent lower than last year.