Coal India approves 32 mining projects worth Rs 47,300 crore this fiscal

In an effort to move towards one billion tonne coal production by 2023-24, state-run Coal India Ltd (CIL) has approved 32 mining projects in the current financial year till January, which may see investment to the tune of around Rs 47,300 crore.

While 24 of the 32 are an expansion of the existing projects, the rest eight are new greenfield projects. The combined incremental peak capacity of these projects is projected at 193 million tonnes per year (MT/Y). This will be in addition to the already sanctioned capacity of 303.5 MT/Y. The incremental production by FY2024 from the approved 32 expansion and the new greenfield projects would be to the tune of around 81 MT/Y.

CIL has lined up a total investment of about Rs 92,000 crore for its coal projects with an aim to achieve one billion tonne coal production by 2023-24 which include likely investment in coal evacuation infrastructure, mining infrastructure, project development and social infrastructure. However, CIL is also coming up with an estimated likely investment of about Rs 1.26 lakh crore involving 506 projects which include likely investment in clean coal, diversification initiatives like solar, thermal power, and fertilisers apart from investments in coal mining projects.

CIL Board and boards of the respective subsidiary companies have given their nod for the move. “Such high number, either in terms of projects or capacity addition, has not been cleared in a single financial year so far,” said a senior official of the company. CIL is targeting to replace coal imports through its own coal and an increase in domestic production would play a catalytic role in this effort, the company said.