Coal output from captive, commercial mines rises nearly 9.61 pc in July

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New Delhi, August 3
India’s captive and commercial coal mines produced more coal in July than they did a year ago, as the government pushes to increase domestic supplies and reduce dependence on imports. Sharing details in an official statement, the Ministry of Coal said that the coal sector produced 14.78 million tonnes (MT) of coal in July 2026, up 9.61 percent from the same month last year. Coal dispatches during the month reached 17.49 MT and reflecting steady demand from power producers and industries.

Officials said the increase was driven by improved mining efficiency, better use of existing capacities and higher productivity across captive and commercial mines.

Captive mines are operated primarily to supply coal for the owner’s industrial use, while commercial mines sell coal on the open market. Together, they have become an increasingly important part of India’s efforts to boost domestic coal production.
The government says higher output from these mines could help cut coal imports, strengthen supply chains and reduce spending on foreign purchases. It also sees the expansion as part of its broader goal of increasing self-reliance in critical energy resources under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The Ministry of Coal said it would continue supporting the sector through policy measures, regulatory oversight and efforts to remove supply-side bottlenecks. It added that increasing domestic coal availability remains a priority to meet India’s growing energy and industrial demand.
Despite the push for renewable energy, coal continues to account for the largest share of India’s electricity generation, making domestic production a key component of the country’s energy security strategy.