The phenomenal growth of the coal industry in India is primarily due to the exponential surge in power demand even as the industrial sectors have emerged as major consumers of coal amid rapid economic growth. Total national demand for non-coking coal (thermal or steam coal) is expected to touch 1,128 million tonnes (mnt) in FY’25, up by around 3% from the expected consumption figure of around 1,098 mnt in FY’24, as per BigMint assessment. Coal is majorly consumed for electricity generation in India (about 64%), followed by steel (8%, coking coal) and cement (5%). Coal is also consumed by various other industries such as paper, textile, fertilizers, railways, defense and other small and medium enterprises.
