Kolkata
Coal India Limited (CIL) aims to achieve, or come close to, its ambitious 875 million tonnes (MT) coal production target for the 2025–26 financial year, said its new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Sanoj Kumar Jha on Sunday. The statement came amid recent shortfalls in monthly production due to weather challenges.
Speaking at Hindustan Copper Ltd’s 59th Foundation Day in Kolkata, Jha said, “I can’t say we will meet or miss the target, but we will definitely aspire to reach it.” He attributed the production decline in September and October mainly to heavy monsoon rains, which disrupted mining operations across key coalfields.
In October, CIL’s output dropped 9.8% to 56.4 MT, while September production stood at 48.97 MT. Despite these setbacks, Jha assured that the company will maintain adequate coal supplies for the power and industrial sectors, adding, “We will end this year with higher stock levels than last year.”
CIL, which produces over 80% of India’s coal, has also set a dispatch target of 900 MT for FY26. The company expects demand to recover soon, even though power sector consumption has been “sluggish” in recent months.
Jha, who took charge as CMD on November 1, also revealed that regulations for the proposed coal exchange are expected within the next six months.
At the same event, Hindustan Copper Ltd CMD Sanjiv Kumar Singh announced plans to expand copper ore production capacity from 4 MTPA to 12 MTPA by 2030–31, to meet India’s growing metal demand.
