This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Coal's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4378, answered on August 20, 2025, regarding India's coal phasing-out plan.
India has achieved its target of 50% non-fossil fuel capacity in its cumulative electric power installed capacity by June 2025, five years ahead of schedule. As of June 30, 2025, India's total installed electricity capacity is 484.82 GW, with 242.78 GW (50.08%) from non-fossil fuel sources.
While committed to clean energy, India acknowledges coal's continued importance as it accounts for 55% of the country's primary energy needs and is crucial for industries like steel, cement, and paper. The pace of transition to cleaner energy sources will be dictated by the development and availability of renewable energy options.
Coal production figures for the past ten years are as follows (in million tonnes): 2015-16 (639.23), 2016-17 (657.87), 2017-18 (675.40), 2018-19 (728.72), 2019-20 (730.87), 2020-21 (716.08), 2021-22 (778.21), 2022-23 (893.19), 2023-24 (997.83), and 2024-25 (provisional 1047.50).
The Ministry of Coal has set a domestic coal production target of approximately 1.5 Billion Tonnes (BT) by FY 2029-30. This will be achieved through the adoption of modern machinery like Mass Production Technologies (MPT), including Continuous Miners (CMs), Longwall (LW) and Highwall (HW) mining, and Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM). The Mine Developer Operator model is being utilized, and abandoned mines are being brought back into production. Infrastructure for Coal Handling Plants (CHP) and related logistics are being augmented to support efficient coal production.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI ABHISHEK BANERJEE: Member of LOK SABHA who raised the unstarred question No.4378.
Ministry of Coal: The Indian government ministry responsible for coal production and policy.
LOK SABHA: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY: Minister of Coal and Mines who provided the answer to the question.
Central Electricity Authority CEA: An organization providing reports on India's electricity capacity.
2030: The year India aims to achieve fifty per cent nonfossil fuel capacity.
India: The country to which the policy and production targets refer.
FY 202930: The financial year by which the Ministry of Coal has set a domestic coal production target of about 1.5 Billion Ton BT.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COAL
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No.4378
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025
Coal Phasing out Plan
4378 SHRI ABHISHEK BANERJEE:
Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:
a. the current status of India’s target of achieving fifty per cent non-fossil fuel capacity by
the year 2030;
b. whether the Government has planned a phasing out of coal and if so, the details thereof;
c. the details of coal production during the last ten years, year-wise; and
d. whether the Government is planning to increase the existing coal production capacity
and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a): India has achieved the target of having 50% of its cumulative electric power installed
capacity from non-fossil fuel-based sources during June, 2025 i.e. five years ahead of our
global commitment. As per the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) reports, India’s total
installed electricity capacity as on 30th June, 2025 stands at 484.82 GW, of which non-fossil
fuel-based electricity capacity is 242.78 GW i.e. 50.08%.
(b): Coal is the most important and abundant fossil fuel in India and accounts for 55% of the
country's primary energy need. Commercial primary energy consumption in India has grown
by about 700% in the last four decades. Coal is not only the primary source of energy in the
country but is also used as an intermediary used by many industries such as steel, sponge iron,
cement, paper, brick-kilns etc.
Accordingly, while India remains committed to clean energy, the pace of transition to cleaner
energy sources in India is to be viewed in the light of options and development of the renewable
sources of energy.
(c): The coal production during last ten years are given below :-
(in Million Tonnes)
Year Production of Coal
2015-16 639.23
2016-17 657.87
2017-18 675.40
2018-19 728.72
2019-20 730.87
2020-21 716.08
2021-22 778.212022-23 893.19
2023-24 997.83
2024-25 (Provisional) 1047.50
(d): Ministry of coal has set an ambitious domestic coal production target of about 1.5 Billion
Ton (BT) by FY 2029-30. Adoption of modern machinery like Mass Production Technologies
(MPT) with the deployment of Continuous Miners (CMs), Longwall (LW) and Highwall (HW)
and HEMM is enhancing production. The process of Mine Developer & Operator has been
adopted and Abandoned mines are also being brought in to production. The infrastructure of
CHP and related logistics infrastructure is also being augmented to ensure efficient coal
production.
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