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The ministry of coal has finalized an action plan to introduce key reforms in the coal sector in 2022-23, including corporate restructuring of central public sector undertakings and outsourcing of Coal India Ltd (CIL) mines.
This is the second time that an agenda document for the year has been brought out and shared with all senior functionaries who have been given the responsibility of steering these reforms with regular monitoring and appraisals.
The idea is to step up the major reforms done in the last few years and give directions for meeting existing and emerging challenges, a coal ministry statement said. The action plan covers the entire gamut of areas for steering the sector into new technologies while focussing on the core competence of increasing production targets. Coking Coal Mission had been launched for increasing coking coal production from 45 million tonnes in 2020-21 to 140 MT by 2029-30 which includes 105 MT from CIL alone.
A futuristic agenda will be pursued including coal to chemical, synthesis gas, hydrogen gas, liquid fuels, and chemicals and fertilizers,
CIL will diversify its business and explore prospects in sunrise industries, electric charging pods, electric vehicles etc. It will also focus on acquisition and mergers of similar or new business after due diligence, media campaigns and close monitoring of CSR activities.