According to a report presented by the Ministry of Coal to Parliament on Tuesday, these facilities are at various stages of construction, tendering, and contracting. Once operational, they are expected to provide much stronger self-sufficiency for coking coal, one of the most critical raw materials for India’s steel industry.
India’s coking coal production rose from 44.79 million mt in 2020-21 to 66.47 million mt in 2024-25. The ministry believes the new washing plants will accelerate this growth and reduce high-cost imports from Australia and the United States.
State-owned Coal India Limited (CIL) is leading the projects. In addition to the new plants, CIL plans to bring 11 idle coking coal mines back into production by opening them to the private sector under a revenue-sharing model. This strategy aims to benefit from private sector efficiency while bringing unused reserves into the economy.
The Madhuband Coking Coal Washing Plant, commissioned in 2023-24 with an annual capacity of 5 million mt, is one of the country’s largest facilities and serves as a model for similar projects.
Coking coal, as a key input in steel production, lies at the heart of the growing demand in India’s infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. By increasing processing capacity and reviving idle mines, the government aims to strengthen the supply chain, reduce import costs, and promote self-sufficiency in this strategically important area.
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