Parliament Committee calls for upgrading washery infrastructure to spur domestic higher-quality coal production
A parliamentary committee has urged the modernization of coal washery infrastructure to improve the quality of domestic coal and reduce reliance on imports. The report highlights that aging technology and logistical inefficiencies are preventing the effective beneficiation of high-ash coal required for steel production.
Why it matters
Improving domestic coal quality is critical for India's steel industry and energy security, as it reduces the need for expensive coal imports and optimizes existing mining assets.
The quality of domestically produced coal with high-ash content remains a “major challenge”, the parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel stated in their latest report, calling for increased priority to coal beneficiation and modernisation of washery infrastructure for increasing availability of higher-quality coal.
Coal production from captive, commercial mines up 10.2% in FY 2025-26
The committee observed there was a variance in the capacity of coking coal washeries and their output owing to aged infrastructure, legacy technology, delayed supply of raw coal from mine pitheads and certain incompatible design of washeries with the raw coal supplied.
In its report, the committee added, “The committee are also apprised that many washeries of Coal India have already outlived their designed operational life and are facing challenges due to legacy technology.”
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