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.

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

What the committee found

• 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.

Also in the document

• Only 5 out of 13 washeries operated by Coal India Limited meet the prescribed 95% efficiency benchmark.
• Domestic supply of washed coking coal is projected at 23 MT by 2030, falling short of the 48 MT required to meet the National Steel Policy target.
• A significant number of private sector washeries are underutilised or idle due to poor availability of suitable raw coal linkages.