Coalfields

India’s vast coal reserves are the cornerstone of its energy sector, fueling a significant portion of its electricity generation and industrial activities. These reserves are distributed across several states, with major coalfields concentrated in the eastern and central parts of the country. The following is a detailed overview of India’s key coalfields, updated with current information on reserves, operational status, and unique characteristics.

Key Coal-Bearing States and their Major Fields

Jharkhand: A powerhouse of coal production, Jharkhand is home to some of the country’s largest and most critical coal reserves.

• Jharia Coalfield: Renowned for its extensive deposits of prime coking coal, essential for steel manufacturing, the Jharia coalfield boasts estimated reserves of approximately 19.5 billion tonnes. Located in the Damodar River Valley, it is one of the oldest and most significant mining areas. The region is also a focal point for coal-bed methane (CBM) exploration.
• Bokaro Coalfield: Divided into East and West Bokaro, this coalfield holds substantial reserves, estimated to be between 4.5 and 9 billion tonnes. The Bokaro River flows through this region, which spans across the Hazaribagh and Bokaro districts.
• Karanpura Coalfield: With North and South Karanpura fields having combined estimated reserves of over 16 billion tonnes, this is another major coal-producing region. It is also an area of active CBM prospecting and is spread across the Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, and Chatra districts.
• Giridih Coalfield: While smaller, with reserves of around 17.3 million tonnes, the Giridih coalfield in the Giridih district is known for its high-quality metallurgical coal.
• Ramgarh Coalfield: Situated in Jharkhand, this coalfield has estimated reserves of about 1.06 billion tonnes.
• Rajmahal Coalfield: A significant contributor to India’s coal output, the Rajmahal coalfield has estimated reserves of 13.12 billion tonnes. It stretches across parts of Jharkhand and Bihar and is considered the fourth largest in the country.

West Bengal: This eastern state has a long history of coal mining and hosts one of the nation’s most important coalfields.

• Raniganj Coalfield: As the oldest coalmining area in modern India, the Raniganj coalfield is the second-largest in the country, with estimated reserves of 18.5 billion tonnes. It is a key site for CBM exploration and is located in the Asansol and Durgapur districts.
• Birbhum Coalfield: Holding one of the largest coal reserves in India, estimated at 5 billion tonnes, the Birbhum coalfield is notable for the Deucha Pachami coal block. This block, spread over 9.7 square kilometers, is considered the largest coal mine or block in Asia.

Chhattisgarh: A leading state in coal production, Chhattisgarh has several major coalfields.

• Mand Raigarh Coalfield: With enormous estimated reserves of 18.5 billion tonnes, this coalfield is situated in the valley of the Mand River, a tributary of the Mahanadi, in the Raigarh district.
• Korba Coalfield: Located in the basin of the Hasdeo River, this coalfield has estimated reserves of 10.1 billion tonnes. It is home to the Gevra open-cast mine complex, one of the largest of its kind in Asia.
• Hasdeo Coalfield: This coalfield, also in Chhattisgarh, contains estimated reserves of 5.18 billion tonnes.
• Bisrampur Coalfield: This field in Chhattisgarh holds estimated reserves of 1.61 billion tonnes.
• Chirimiri Coalfield: Situated in the valley of the Hasdeo River in the Koriya district, the Chirimiri coalfield has estimated reserves of 312 million tonnes.
• Tatapani-Ramkola Coalfield: Located in the Tatapani district, this coalfield has estimated reserves of 2.6 billion tonnes.

Odisha: A state rich in mineral resources, Odisha possesses a significant coalfield.

• Talcher Coalfield: Located in the Angul district in the valley of the Brahmani river, the Talcher coalfield is a major production center. It is divided into five subdivisions: Talcher, Jagannath, Kalinga, Lingaraj, and Hingula, with a combined annual production of approximately 33.10 million tonnes.

Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh: These neighboring states share a significant coal-producing region.

• Singrauli Coalfield: Spanning the Singrauli and Sonebhadra districts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh respectively, this coalfield has estimated reserves of 9.1 billion tonnes.
• Sohagpur Coalfield: Located in the Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, in the basin of the Son River, it has estimated reserves of 4.06 billion tonnes.
• Umaria Coalfield: Situated in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, in the valley of the Umrer River, this field has estimated reserves of 180 million tonnes.

Telangana: The primary coal-bearing state in Southern India.

• Godavari Valley Coalfield: As the only major coalfield in Southern India, it holds estimated reserves of 16.7 billion tonnes of non-coking coal. The coalfield extends across the districts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, and Warangal.

Maharashtra: A key state in western India with notable coal reserves.

• Wardha Valley Coalfield: Located in the Chandrapur district, this coalfield lies in the valley of the Wardha and Godavari basin and has estimated reserves of 5.4 billion tonnes of non-coking coal.
• Kamptee Coalfield: Situated in the Nagpur district, this field has estimated reserves of 1.23 billion tonnes.

Bihar: While sharing the Rajmahal coalfield with Jharkhand, Bihar also has its own significant coal reserves.

• Aurangabad Coalfield: With estimated reserves of 3 billion tonnes, this is one of the largest coal reserves in India and is located in the state of Bihar.

Northeastern States: The coal found in this region has distinct characteristics.

• Makum Coalfield: Located in Assam, this coalfield has estimated reserves of 280 million tonnes. The coal in this region, like other northeastern coalfields, is known for its high sulphur content.
• West Daranggiri Coalfield: Situated in Meghalaya, this field has estimated reserves of 127 million tonnes and is characterized by high-sulphur coal.