Kolkata, May 2 (UNI) Coal production touched an all-time high in 20204-25, and is expected to move northward in the future, a government report said on Friday.

The report, which reaffirmed the favourable climate of the coal industry, said the dispatch of the black diamond touched 16.81 million tonnes (MT) at the beginning of FY 2025-26, and the country's captive and commercial mines witnessed 14.01 million tonnes (MT) of production in April 2025.

Experts and industry insiders believe that the meteoric rise of the coal segment in India has resulted from policy reforms and the auctioning of the captive coal blocks, which further encouraged private players to invest in the segment.

The April 2025 growth in the coal sector has surpassed the growth parameters it touched in FY 2023-24 and FY 2022-23, the report said.

The Ministry of Coal's constant monitoring, reformed policies, and handholding of the stakeholders have helped the coal segment reach its peak.

The considerable rise in ACQ (Annual Contract Quantity) has helped reduce import dependency by increasing domestic supplies. The Mines and Minerals Act amendment has also been pivotal in this development, the report said.

The change in the Act has helped the Captive mines sell their coal production in the domestic market, which has further helped the domestic market become self-sufficient.

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