Coal news and updates

Coal ministry to strive for faster clearance of mining projects

May 29: Newly-appointed Coal Minister Piyush Goyal hopes that his ministry would work in tandem with the environment ministry to ensure faster clearances to mining projects.

Immediately after assuming office on May 27, the minister said, making the energy sector more vibrant is the priority of the government and establishing a synergy between power and coal sector is very important.

Goyal said that while seeking faster clearances from the environment ministry, the Ministry of Coal (MoC) will also keep in mind the environmental interests of the nation.

Goyal, who is also the power minister, said promoting private investment in the power sector is also very important and the government would provide all possible support to encourage private participation.

“One of my major priorities is to de-bottleneck the system and ensure fast delivery in the power sector,” Goyal said separately, while assuming charge as power minister.

He further said the ministries of power, coal and new and renewable energy have been brought together under one umbrella because people want to see a small government but more in terms of delivery.

He held detailed discussions with senior officials in the ministries of coal and power separately and also with the chairman of Coal India Ltd (CIL) on the various issues in the respective sectors.