Stakeholders Consultation Meeting on Reforms in the Coal Sector Held in New Delhi

Ministry of Coal Stakeholders Consultation Meeting on Reforms in the Coal Sector Held in New Delhi Posted On: 07 AUG 2025 5:47PM by PIB Delhi The Ministry of Coal today organized a Stakeholders Consultation on Reforms in the Coal Sector at SCOPE Complex, New Delhi. The session was chaired by Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal and Mines in the presence of Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal. Additional Secretary & Nominated Authority, MoC, Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary, MoC Shri Sanoj Kumar Jha, CMDs of coal and lignite PSUs, senior officials of the Ministry, and representatives from the private sector were present in the session. The session was aimed to engage with key stakeholders from across the coal ecosystem to deliberate on new reform measures that can further strengthen domestic coal production, reduce import dependency, and enhance ease of doing business in the sector.Addressing the gathering, Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy highlighted the remarkable transformation the coal sector has undergone in the last decade. From an era of opacity in coal block allocation, the country has moved towards transparency, efficiency and accountability. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government responded decisively with the enactment of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and a transparent auction mechanism, which laid the foundation for reforms that followed. The Minister noted that since 2014, the Ministry of Coal has undertaken a series of pioneering reforms, from digital monitoring portals and quality control measures to landmark initiatives like commercial coal auctions, single window clearance system, and clean coal technologies such as coal gasification. Shri Reddy reaffirmed the Government’s unwavering commitment to ushering in the next wave of reforms in the coal sector. He stressed on the need to increase domestic production further, achieve zero coal imports, and scale up coal gasification initiatives. Calling upon all stakeholders to actively contribute their insights and innovations, the Minister reiterated that the Ministry is dedicated to fostering an ecosystem that is transparent, efficient, and future-ready. These sustained efforts are aligned with the broader national objectives of building an Atmanirbhar Bharat and advancing towards a Viksit Bharat.Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, in his remarks, highlighted the coal sector’s crucial role in powering the country’s development. He said that the efforts must be directed towards making the country stronger and all decisions must reflect the best interest of the nation. He appreciated the collaborative spirit in which the Ministry has approached sectoral reforms and urged all stakeholders to work with a sense of national responsibility. Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, noted that while the Ministry has achieved significant progress across key parameters, the purpose of this consultation is to identify areas that require further intervention. He underlined the need for further refinement in coal gasification technologies to make the process more efficient, scalable, and economically viable. He elaborated that the Ministry is working in close coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, resulting in a streamlining of major regulatory processes such as environmental and forest clearances. He expressed confidence that continued reforms in this space would significantly enhance ease of doing business for coal developers. Speaking on the progress of the Single Window Clearance System, the Secretary informed that several newfeatures have been introduced to ensure seamless and end-to-end resolution of clearances. He also mentioned that pending matters requiring State Government intervention have been flagged and will be formally presented before NITI Aayog, so that the same can be taken up more assertively at the state level. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s resolve to drive reforms with urgency and commitment to support the sector’s growth trajectory. Additional Secretary and Nominated Authority, Smt. Rupinder Brar, in her address, welcomed the valuable inputs received from stakeholders and assured that the Ministry is open to all constructive suggestions. She emphasized the importance of continuous engagement and encouraged participants to actively contribute ideas that can shape the future of the coal sector. During the session, stakeholders shared valuable suggestions related to simplifying clearances, incentivizing coal gasification, improving logistics infrastructure, leveraging digital technology, and fostering ease of doing business. These inputs will be carefully considered by the Ministry to shape future policy interventions and ensure sustainable growth of the coal sector.The session concluded with a strong sense of collaboration among public and private stakeholders and reinforced the Ministry’s resolve to pursue reforms that promote transparency, efficiency, sustainability, and long-term energy security for the nation. **** Shuhaib T (Release ID: 2153707)