Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: Ministry of Coal has approved a plan called the “Exploration of Coal and Lignite Scheme” with an estimated expenditure of ₹2,980 crore.
Aim: The scheme aims to explore and estimate coal resources in the country, facilitating the preparation of detailed project reports for coal mining. This initiative plays a crucial role in assessing coal reserves, auctioning new coal blocks, and recovering costs from successful bidders.
Time period: 2021-22 to 2025-26
Stages: It consists of two stages: (i) Promotional (Regional) Exploration and (ii) Detailed Exploration in Non-Coal India Limited blocks
Classification of coal in India based on carbon content:
| Coal Type | Description | Carbon Content (%) | Calorific Value (kcal/kg) | Found in |
| Anthracite | Best quality coal with the highest calorific value | 80-95 | High | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Bituminous | A common type of coal with moderate carbon content and high calorific value | 60-80 | High | Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh |
| Lignite | The lowest rank of coal with lower carbon content and high moisture content | 40-55 | Low to Medium | Rajasthan, Lakhimpur (Assam), Tamil Nadu |
| Peat | The initial stage of a coal formation with low calorific value and low carbon content | <40 | Low | Throughout India |
About Coal Sector in India:
- India has the fifth largest coal reserves, is second in coal production (after China) and is among the largest importer of coal (mainly from Indonesia, South Africa and Australia).
- Coal accounts for almost 50% share in the total installed electricity generation capacity in India.
- The top 5 States in terms of total coal reserves in India are Jharkhand > Odisha > Chhattisgarh > West Bengal > Madhya Pradesh.
Other Government Initiatives for the Coal sector: UTTAM (Unlocking Transparency by Third Party Assessment of Mined Coal) Application for coal quality monitoring; New coal linkage policy to ensure adequate supply of fuel to power plants through reverse auction; Online Coal Clearances System; Coal Allocation Monitoring System (CAMS); Opening up of commercial coal mining
