Only 5 of 13 Coal India washeries meet 95% efficiency benchmark

The Standing Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel examined the infrastructure required to increase washed coal production in India, a process necessary to reduce the high ash content of domestic coal that affects energy efficiency and pollution. This matters to citizens as it impacts the availability of clean fuel for power generation and the supply of coking coal for the steel industry.

Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Steel, Coal India Limited, private sector washery operators, and the Coal Controller's Organisation (CCO).

• The Committee identified a demand-supply gap for washed coking coal, noting that meeting the 2030 steel target requires 48 MT but domestic supply is projected at only 23 MT; it recommended a time-bound strategy to expand washery infrastructure.
• The Committee flagged that only 5 of 13 Coal India Limited washeries meet the 95% efficiency benchmark due to aging equipment, and that many private washeries are idle due to poor raw coal linkages; it recommended modernizing aging facilities and utilizing idle private capacity through public-private collaboration.
• The Committee recommended scaling up advanced coal beneficiation technologies (such as dry washing) beyond the pilot stage and creating a technology adoption roadmap.
• The Committee recommended expediting environmental and forest clearances for coking coal mines through coordination between the Ministry of Coal, the Environment Ministry, and state governments.
• The Committee highlighted logistics challenges, including the lack of mechanized loading in older washeries and their distance from pitheads; it recommended scaling up mechanized evacuation, timely completion of 33 planned rail lines, and establishing new washeries near pitheads.
• The Committee noted that while new washeries have water recycling systems, no such norms exist for existing ones; it recommended periodic audits, digital tracking for compliance, and the formulation of water recycling norms for all washeries.
• The Committee observed that the Coal Controller's Organisation (CCO) lacks the mandate to monitor washery production or coal quality; it recommended hiring specialized technical experts to strengthen CCO's capacity for technical oversight.

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