The distribution of coal in India is largely concentrated in the northeastern, eastern, and south-central regions of the country, with Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh holding the majority of the coal reserves. These three states together account for nearly two-thirds of India's total coal reserves. Other notable coal-producing states include West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and some parts of Uttar Pradesh. India's coal is geologically divided into two main types: Gondwana coal and Tertiary coal. Gondwana coal fields constitute about 98% of total coal reserves and production in India, with the coal being about 250 million years old. Tertiary coal fields, mainly lignite, are found in extra-peninsular regions such as parts of western and southern India, including Tamil Nadu, which has the largest lignite deposits at Neyveli. Key states and coalfields:
- Jharkhand: Largest coal reserves (~24.9%) and significant production centers like Dhanbad, Jharia, Bokaro.
- Odisha: Second largest coal reserves (~23.0%) with major thermal coal mines.
- Chhattisgarh: Third largest reserves (~18.2%) with major coalfields like Korba and Hasdeo-Arand.
- West Bengal: About 11% of reserves; Raniganj coalfield is the oldest coal mining site.
- Madhya Pradesh: Holds about 8% of reserves; important coalfields include Singrauli and Satpura.
- Andhra Pradesh & Telangana: Coal mostly in Godavari valley; source of coal for southern India.
- Maharashtra: Coal deposits mainly in Nagpur and Chandrapur districts.
Coal in India provides a critical energy backbone for industrial growth and electricity generation. Gondwana coalfields are the main source of bituminous and non-coking coal, while the tertiary coalfield produces lignite of inferior quality but significant for power generation. Total coal reserves in India are around 352 billion metric tonnes with lignite reserves at about 46 billion tonnes. Tamil Nadu holds the largest lignite reserves in the country. In summary, coal in India is unevenly distributed with the highest concentration in Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, closely followed by West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, and smaller yet significant reserves in southern and western states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
