Launch of Coal Logistics Plan and Policy by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi

Event Overview: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, from the Ministry of Coal, introduced the “Coal Logistics Plan and Policy” at a conference held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. This event was organized under the auspices of the Indian National Committee of the World Mining Congress (INC/WMC) with significant participation from industry leaders.

Objective of the Coal Logistics Plan and Policy: The new policy aims to overhaul the existing coal transportation system to achieve a technologically advanced, integrated, cost-effective, and sustainable logistics ecosystem. This initiative is critical to India’s goal of modernizing coal transportation methods, enhancing logistical efficiencies, and promoting environmental sustainability.

Strategic Developments:

1. First Mile Connectivity (FMC) Projects:
   • Transition to a railway-based system for initial coal transportation stages.
   • Expected to reduce rail logistic costs by approximately 14%, saving Rs 21,000 crore annually.
   • Projected to lower carbon emissions by around 100,000 tonnes per year, decrease air pollution, and alleviate traffic congestion.
2. Efficiency Improvements:
   • Anticipated 10% reduction in the average turnaround time of wagons throughout the country.

Policy Implications: This policy is part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Coal, which targets producing 1.5 billion tonnes of coal by 2030, aiming to significantly enhance the coal value chain through improved logistics and reduced transportation costs.

Event Highlights:

• A panel discussion featured insights from key figures such as Anil Kumar Jha (Chairman of Jindal Power Limited) and Subrat Tripathy (CEO of Adani Ports), chaired by M Nagaraju (Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal).
• Discussions focused on holistic approaches to optimize coal transportation and logistics.

About INC/WMC:

• The Indian National Committee World Mining Congress is affiliated with the World Mining Congress, an international NGO connected to the United Nations.
• Chaired by Amrit Lal Meena (Secretary of Coal), INC-WMC is headquartered in New Delhi, Delhi.

Conclusion: The Coal Logistics Plan and Policy represents a strategic initiative by the Ministry of Coal to modernize and streamline coal logistics in India, contributing to economic efficiencies and environmental benefits. This policy is expected to be a cornerstone in India’s ambitious coal production and logistics overhaul by 2030.