Coal Output Rises 18.51% in Feb, Dispatches at 17.72 MT

Coal production from captive and commercial mines climbed 18.51 percent year-on-year to 20.49 million tonnes in February 2026, according to the Ministry of Coal. The strong growth shows steady momentum in operations as mining activity scales up across the country.

During the same month, coal dispatches stood at 17.72 million tonnes, reflecting firm demand and improved supply coordination. The ministry said the sharp rise in output points to sustained operational focus and faster ramp-up at several mines.

In a recent industry interview about production targets and strategy, B Sairam, Chairman & Managing Director, Coal India Limited said, “Coal will remain a core business even as we expand into cleaner and new areas.”

For the financial year 2025-26 up to February, cumulative production from captive and commercial blocks recorded an 11.58 percent increase compared with the same period last year. Dispatches during this period also rose 6.78 percent year-on-year, showing healthy offtake from key consuming sectors.

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The ministry said the continued rise in production and dispatches signals stronger efficiency, faster capacity addition, and better coordination across the mining value chain. It credited policy reforms, close monitoring, and ongoing support to stakeholders for speeding up approvals and expanding production capacity.

On stronger power use powering coal needs, Vinaya Varma, Managing Director of mjunction services (joint venture of SAIL and Tata Steel) said, “The tempo in electricity consumption continues to rise, and that sets the stage for bigger coal demand ahead.”

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Reaffirming its focus on unlocking the full potential of captive and commercial coal mining in India, the ministry said it will work to keep output stable, reduce supply disruptions, and strengthen the sector’s role in meeting the country’s rising energy demand.

The latest numbers underline the government’s push to boost domestic coal output and cut supply gaps as power consumption continues to grow.