Continuing structural reforms in the mining sector, the Government of India has accorded a Critical and Strategic Mineral status to Coking Coal under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act). Although India has an estimated 37.37 billion tonnes of coking coal resources, largely located in Jharkhand, with additional reserves in Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, the country remains heavily dependent on imports. Besides, around 95% of the coking coal requirement of the steel sector is currently met through imports, leading to significant foreign exchange outgo.
Classifying coking coal as a critical and strategic mineral will enable optimal utilisation of domestic coking coal resources and reinforce national mineral security. This move is expected to facilitate faster approvals, improve ease of doing business, and accelerate exploration and mining activities, including of deep-seated deposits. Mining of critical minerals is exempt from public consultation requirements and permits the utilisation of degraded forest land for compensatory afforestation, measures that are also expected to encourage greater private sector participation.
This will also reduce import dependence, strengthen supply-chain resilience for the steel sector, and support the objectives of the National Steel Policy. It is also expected to promote private investment in exploration, beneficiation, and the adoption of advanced mining technologies, while generating employment across the mining, logistics, and steel value chain.
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