India’s coal production has been accelerating since the COVID-19 pandemic, with annual increases of 51.9 million tons in 2021, 98.7 million tons in 2022, and 100.1 million tons in 2023, bringing total production to 1,010.9 million tons. This growth raised India’s global coal supply share from 9.9% in 2021 to 11.1% in 2023, according to the Energy Institute.
Key Drivers of Growth
- Rising Domestic Demand – India expanded its coal-fired power generation by 17% (216 TWh) between 2011 and 2023.
- New Coal Capacity – The country commissioned 14.3 GW of coal-burning capacity, contributing 6% of total installed coal power capacity.
- Future Expansion – As of July 2024, India had 29.5 GW of coal-burning capacity under construction, ranking second globally after China.
Technological Advancements & Safety Improvements
- India is adopting more efficient “ultra-supercritical” coal-burning technology, which improves efficiency to 44-46%.
- Safety in coal mining has improved, with heavy injuries dropping from 126 (2016) to 58 (2021) and fatal incidents from 61 to 25.
- Deep mining’s role has declined, supplying less than 4% of domestic coal in 2023.
Growing Demand from the Metals Industry
- India is expanding carbon-intensive steel production, with the largest planned steelmaking capacity globally (152.7 million tons per year).
- The country ranks second in new basic oxygen furnace construction (24.4 million tons per year), a process reliant on coking coal.
India’s coal production is set to continue growing, driven by strong demand from power generation and steel industries, alongside efficiency improvements and enhanced safety measures.
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