**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4453, addressed on August 20, 2025, the Ministry of Coal outlines diversification initiatives undertaken by coal companies to mitigate reliance on coal mining. These initiatives encompass: (i) the establishment of coal or lignite gasification projects; (ii) the development of thermal power plants and pumped storage projects; (iii) exploration and development of critical minerals; and (iv) the implementation of renewable energy projects.
Coal India Limited (CIL) has acquired the Khattali Chhoti Graphite Block in Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh, and the Oranga-Revatipur Graphite and Vanadium Block in Balrampur, Chhattisgarh. NLC India Limited (NLCIL) has been declared the successful bidder for the Semhardih Phosphorite and Limestone Block, and the Raipura Phosphorite and Limestone Block, both located in Chhattisgarh.
Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Coal are actively participating in domestic and international auctions to acquire critical mineral assets. They are also engaging directly with agencies globally and have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with both foreign and domestic institutions to secure critical mineral blocks.
In the Singrauli district, the Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) is conducting exploration of non-coal minerals through funding from the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET). CMPDI has completed a research and development (R&D) project analyzing the concentration of Rare Earth Elements (REE) in coal within the Singrauli Coalfield. The Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, provided this information.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Coal: A government ministry responsible for the coal sector.
Coal India Limited: A coal mining company that has secured noncoal mineral blocks.
NLC India Limited: A company that has been declared a successful bidder for noncoal mineral blocks.
Chhattisgarh: A state in India where NLC India Limited secured Semhardih Phosphorite and Limestone Block and Raipura Phosphorite and Limestone Block, and where Coal India Limited secured OrangaRevatipur Graphite and Vanadium Block in Balrampur district.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India where Coal India Limited secured Khattali Chhoti Graphite Block in Alirajpur district.
Singrauli district: A district where efforts have been made by the coal companies.
Central Mine Planning Design Institute Limited: An institute involved in exploration of noncoal minerals.
National Mineral Exploration Trust: Funding source for CMPDI's exploration of noncoal minerals.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COAL
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 4453
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025
DIVERSIFICATION INITIATIVES BY COAL COMPANIES
†4453. DR. RAJESH MISHRA:
Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:
(a) the major diversification initiatives taken by the coal companies to reduce dependence on
coal mining;
(b) whether any of the said companies have acquired non-coal mineral blocks;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether there are any plans to acquire important mineral blocks domestically or
internationally;
(e) if so, the current status of the said efforts; and
(f) the efforts made by the coal companies in this regard in Singrauli district?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a): The major diversification initiatives taken by coal companies to reduce dependence on
coal mining are as under:
(i) Setting up of Coal or Lignite Gasification projects
(ii) Setting up of Thermal Power Plants and Pumped Storage Projects
(iii) Exploration and development of critical minerals
(iv) Setting up of Renewable Energy projects
(b) & (c): Coal India Limited (CIL) has secured two non-coal mineral blocks - (i) Khattali
Chhoti Graphite Block in Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh, and (ii) Oranga-Revatipur Graphite and
Vanadium Block in Balrampur, Chhattisgarh.
NLC India Limited (NLCIL) has been declared successful bidder for two non-coal
mineral blocks - (i) Semhardih Phosphorite and Limestone Block, Chhattisgarh, and (ii)
Raipura Phosphorite and Limestone Block, Chhattisgarh.
(d) & (e): PSUs under Ministry of Coal participate in auctions for critical mineral acquisition
assets, both domestically and internationally. They have also approached agencies in different
parts of the world directly to acquire such minerals. They have also signed MOUs with foreign
as well as domestic institutions as part of efforts to secure critical mineral blocks.(f): Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) is doing Exploration of the
non-coal minerals through National Mineral Exploration Trust funding (NMET) for
diversification. CMPDI has completed one R&D project for the analysis of the concentration
of Rare Earth Elements (REE) in coal in the Singrauli Coalfield.
*****