Coal — India’s Primary Energy Source
Coal accounts for 55% of India’s primary energy consumption and ~73% of its electricity generation. India is the world’s 2nd largest producer and consumer of coal (after China).
Types of Coal
| Type |
Carbon Content |
Calorific Value |
Uses |
| Anthracite |
80-95% |
Highest |
Very limited deposits; J&K |
| Bituminous |
60-80% |
High |
Steel-making, power generation, industry |
| Lignite |
40-55% |
Medium |
Power generation (thermal plants near mines) |
| Peat |
<40% |
Low |
Limited use; first stage of coal formation |
Indian coal is predominantly bituminous and sub-bituminous with high ash content (25-45%) and low sulphur content.
Coal Resources by Type
- Gondwana Coal (~98% of reserves): Bituminous; Carboniferous to Permian period (~250-300 million years ago)
- Found in Peninsular India: Damodar Valley, Mahanadi, Son, Narmada basins
- Tertiary Coal (~2% of reserves): Younger coal; high moisture, lower carbon content
- Found in Assam, Meghalaya, J&K, Rajasthan
Major Coalfields
| State |
Reserves |
Major Coalfields |
Coal Type |
| Jharkhand |
~26% |
Jharia (largest in India), Raniganj (shared with WB), Bokaro, Giridih, Karanpura, Daltonganj |
Prime coking coal for steel |
| Odisha |
~24% |
Talcher (Angul) — largest coalfield in India by area; Ib Valley (Jharsuguda), Sambalpur |
Non-coking coal; high ash |
| Chhattisgarh |
~16% |
Korba, Hasdeo-Arand, Mand-Raigarh, Sohagpur |
Non-coking coal |
| West Bengal |
~8% |
Raniganj (shared with Jharkhand), Birbhum |
Some coking coal |
| Madhya Pradesh |
~8% |
Singrauli (shared with UP), Umaria, Sohagpur |
Non-coking coal |
| Telangana |
~5% |
Godavari Valley (Pranahita-Godavari basin), Singareni |
Non-coking coal |
Major Lignite Deposits
| Location |
Reserves |
Mine |
| Neyveli (Tamil Nadu) |
Largest |
Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) — one of the world’s largest lignite mines |
| Gujarat |
Significant |
Kutch, Bhavnagar |
| Rajasthan |
Moderate |
Bikaner, Barmer |
Coal India Limited (CIL)
- World’s largest coal mining company — produces ~85% of India’s coal
- Subsidiaries: ECL, BCCL, CCL, WCL, SECL, MCL, NCL, NCL
- Target: 1 billion tonnes by 2025-26 (1,000 MT production)
Petroleum — Black Gold
India has limited domestic petroleum reserves — only 0.3% of global reserves — but is the world’s 3rd largest consumer (after US and China). India imports ~85% of its crude oil requirement.
Distribution of Oil Fields
| Region |
State |
Major Fields |
Type |
| Western Offshore (Mumbai High) |
Off Gujarat-Maharashtra coast |
Mumbai High (Bombay High) — largest ~65% of India’s production; Bassein, Tapti |
Offshore |
| Gujarat |
Onshore Gujarat |
Ankleshwar, Kalol, Mehsana, Sanand, Gandhar, Dholka |
Onshore (oldest producing region) |
| Assam |
Upper Assam |
Dibrugarh (Digboi — India’s oldest oil field), Sibsagar: Lakwa, Rudrasagar, Geleki; Naharkatiya, Moran |
Onshore |
| Rajasthan |
Barmer district |
Mangala (Cairn India) — largest onshore oil field in India (~25% of India’s onshore); Aishwariya, Saraswati |
Onshore |
| Andhra Pradesh |
Krishna-Godavari basin |
Ravva (offshore), some onshore gas fields |
Offshore & onshore |
| Tamil Nadu |
Cauvery basin |
Narimanam (onshore) |
Onshore |
Production and Consumption
- Crude oil production: ~30 million tonnes (domestic)
- Consumption: ~220 million tonnes
- Refining capacity: ~260 million tonnes (5th largest in the world)
- Import bill: ~$100-120 billion annually
Major Refineries
| Refinery |
State |
Capacity (MTPA) |
Company |
| Jamnagar (World’s largest) |
Gujarat |
66 (single location: 33+33) |
Reliance Industries |
| Vadinar |
Gujarat |
20 |
Nayara Energy |
| Mundra |
Gujarat |
11 |
IOC |
| Panipat |
Haryana |
15 |
IOC |
| Mathura |
Uttar Pradesh |
8 |
IOC |
| Bathinda |
Punjab |
11.3 |
HPCL-Mittal |
| Paradip |
Odisha |
15 |
IOC |
| Koyali (Vadodara) |
Gujarat |
13.7 |
IOC |
| Chennai |
Tamil Nadu |
10.5 |
CPCL |
| Barauni |
Bihar |
6 |
IOC |
| Haldia |
West Bengal |
8 |
IOC |
| Digboi |
Assam |
0.65 |
IOC |
| Guwahati |
Assam |
1 |
IOC |
| Numaligarh |
Assam |
3 |
NRL |
| Bina |
Madhya Pradesh |
7.8 |
BPCL |
| Kochi |
Kerala |
15.5 |
BPCL |
| Nagapattinam |
Tamil Nadu |
1 |
CPCL |
| Tatipaka |
Andhra Pradesh |
0.1 |
ONGC |
Natural Gas
- Proved reserves: ~1,400 billion cubic meters (bcm)
- Production: ~35 bcm
- Consumption: ~65 bcm (balance imported as LNG)
- Major gas fields: KG Basin, Mumbai High, Assam, Rajasthan, Cauvery Basin
- GAIL: National gas transmission company; operates ~16,000 km gas pipeline network
- City Gas Distribution (CGD): 300+ GAs (Geographical Areas) authorized for piped natural gas supply
- Hydrogen-CNG (H-CNG): Blended H-CNG as auto fuel in Delhi-NCR
