The 16th Indian Coal Markets Conference was held at ITC Sonar in Kolkata by Mjunction services ltd, India’s largest B2B e-commerce company. The conference’s topic, “Coal Rush: Growing in a Green World,” was chosen to best express the rapidly evolving energy dynamics. In keeping with the conference’s subject, a forum will be provided for discussion of the concurrent growth of the coal and renewable energy industries and what it might mean for the viability of new investments in either of these areas.

Vinaya Varma, MD & CEO of Mjunction Services Limited, welcomed all the dignitaries and industry leaders during the inaugural session of the 16^th Indian Coal Markets Conference. He greeted Amit Lal Meena, Secretary, of the Ministry of Coal, for joining the inaugural session virtually. Additionally, Pramod Agrawal, Chairman, Coal of India, S. Saha, MD Bhubneshwar Power Pvt. Ltd., and Ajay Misra, DG, Renewable Energy Society of India also addressed the session about various implications of the Indian Coal Industry.

Speaking on this occasion, Vinaya Varma, MD & CEO of Mjunction Services Limited said, “This is a stiff target as it would require 80 million tons more coal over 700 million tons expected in FY23”.

Followed by the inaugural session, the conference saw the presence of Mr. V K Arora, Chief Mentor, KCT, Dr. B Veera Reddy Director (Technical), and (Director) Finance- Addl. Charge, Coal India Limited (CIL), Mr. Tuhin Mukherjee, Group Advisor, Aditya Birla Group and Former MD, Essel Mining, Ritabrata Ghosh, VP, Sector Head, Corporate Sector ratings, ICRA Ltd, DLR Prasad, Adviser- Minerals, Metals and Mining, APMDC, etc. who addressed the participants during the plenary sessions.

The coal ministry is looking to implement certain changes for the upcoming Tranche 7 of commercial mining in mid-April 2023 for ease of doing business, long-term returns, and price stabilization.

A total of 129 mines have been allocated so far for captive and commercial users.

Priyanka Dutta