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The country has for the first time crossed the milestone of 1 billion tonnes of coal and lignite production in the financial year 2023-24, Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Monday. India's total coal and lignite output was at 937 million tonnes (MT) in the preceding 2022-23 fiscal, as per official figures.

The coal sector has exhibited highest growth of 11.6 % (provisional) among the eight core industries for the month of February 2024 as per the Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI)) (Base Year 2011-12) released by Ministry of Commerce & Industries. The index of coal industry has reached 212.1 points during Feb’24 as compared to 190.1 points during the same period of last year and its cumulative index has increased by 12.1% during April to February, 2023-24 over corresponding period of the previous year.

Government has directed PSU coal miners, who account for more than 90 per cent of the mined commodity, to regularly hold auctions for short term linkages to power plants and intimate Gencos about their annual timeline. Power Ministry, in consultation with Coal Ministry, revised the methodology for allocation of coal under the SHAKTI policy (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India) to enhance availability and affordability of coal.

The price of coal supplied for gasification should be kept at a notified price lower than that for coal supplied to the power sector. It can be charged on extraction basis so as to create certainty in the minds of developers of coal gasification projects in the public or private sector, NITI Aayog suggested at a recent meeting called to review the progress of coal gasification projects.

India's power consumption growth remained subdued at 1.4 per cent to 129.89 billion units (BU) in March as compared to the year-ago period mainly due to pleasant weather, according to government data. In March 2023, power consumption stood at 128.12 BU, lower than 128.47 BU recorded in the same month a year earlier, the data showed. The highest supply in a day (peak power demand) rose to 221.70 GW in March 2024 as opposed to 208.92 GW in March 2023 and 199.43 GW in March 2022.

Thermal power plants started 2024-25 with 50.7 million tonnes of coal stock, about 37% higher year-on-year and around a quarter more than the government’s initial target to end 2023-24 with 40 million tonnes. The coal stock at plants will give the power sector room to meet the upcoming summer demand and allay logistical constraints during the high demand period.

The Power Ministry on Tuesday said that it has directed imported-coal based (ICB) power plants to continue operating at full capacity till September 2024. Besides, the ministry will also meet with officials of gas-based power plants to review their operationalisation during the peak demand summer season (April-June). Power Minister R K Singh on Tuesday held a review meeting with top officials on the power supply and demand situation in the country.

DVC, a leading integrated power utility celebrates and announces another year of remarkable and outstanding performance in FY 2023-24. DVC has achieved highest cumulative generation in its 75 year history, by registering44314.6 MU in FY 23-24, which includes 44125.5 MU of thermal, 180 MU of hydel and 9.1 MU of solar generation.

China and India lifted imports of seaborne thermal coal to three-month highs in March as the world's two biggest buyers took advantage of lower international prices of the fuel to meet strong domestic power demand. China, the world's biggest coal producer and importer, saw arrivals of seaborne thermal coal of 29.7 million metric tons in March, according to data compiled by commodity analysts Kpler.

The global coal bed methane (CBM) market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the rising demand for energy and the pursuit of energy diversity for enhanced security. Valued at USD 11.26 billion in 2022, the market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.72% over the next decade. The utilization of CBM as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional fossil fuels is further driving its adoption, particularly in industries such as cement production and steel manufacturing.

When the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed last week after a huge container ship ran into a support column, the fatal event sent ripples throughout the global supply chain that are still being assessed. Authorities have closed an area within 2,000 yards of the wreckage, blocking access to the Port of Baltimore, the second-largest U.S. coal exporting hub behind Norfolk, Virginia.