Govt extends feedback window for coal trading exchange draft

23 Apr 2025 CW Team

The Ministry of Coal has extended the deadline for public comments on the draft rules of the proposed Coal Trading Exchange (CTE) to 7 May 2025, giving stakeholders more time to weigh in on a key market reform aimed at overhauling how coal is bought and sold in India.

Originally set to close on 6 April, the feedback window was extended via an official notification published on the ministry’s website. The CTE is being positioned as a major shift from India’s existing coal sales model, transitioning from the current ‘one-to-many’ format—dominated by state-run players like Coal India Ltd—to a ‘many-to-many’ marketplace where both private and public sector players can buy and sell through a unified digital platform.

The proposed reform aims to boost price transparency, streamline coal transactions, and foster competition. The draft also suggests that the Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) be designated as the exchange’s regulator, in line with global commodity trading norms.

At present, coal sales in India are primarily routed through government channels, with limited space for private commercial activity. The CTE is expected to open up a broader market for both commercial and captive coal producers, featuring multi-party bidding and an integrated clearing and settlement mechanism to minimise transactional risks.

The reform comes as India’s coal output is projected to cross 1.5 billion tonnes by 2030, creating a possible supply surplus and necessitating a more market-driven approach. The ministry has indicated that the exchange could go live sometime in 2025, with operational details under final review.

Officials say the CTE will play a pivotal role in improving market dynamics, increasing private participation, and aligning the sector with India’s broader energy security and resource efficiency goals.

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

Mizoram To Build Rs 139 Billion Pumped Storage Power Plant

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday announced plans to construct a 2,400 MW pumped storage hydroelectric power plant in Hnahthial district, marking a major step towards achieving energy self-sufficiency in the state. Addressing the Mizo Students’ Union general conference in Hnahthial town, the Chief Minister said the plant would be developed across the Darzo Nallah, a tributary of the Tuipui river. Once operational, the project is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting Mizoram’s rising electricity demand and reducing dependence on imported power. Officials from the State Power..

Centre Plans Nationwide Opening Of Power Retail Market

India is preparing to open up its retail electricity market to private companies nationwide, effectively ending the long-standing monopoly of state-run power distributors in most regions, according to a draft bill released by the Union Power Ministry on Friday. The move will enable major private sector players — including Adani Enterprises, Tata Power, Torrent Power, and CESC — to expand their presence across the country’s electricity distribution landscape. A similar reform attempt in 2022 had faced strong opposition from state-run distribution companies (discoms), which currently dom..

CEA Sets 100 GW Nuclear Target For India By 2047

In a landmark step marking its 52nd Foundation Day, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) unveiled an ambitious roadmap to develop 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2047, aligning with India’s long-term Net-Zero commitment and energy security objectives. The event, held at the Central Water Commission auditorium in New Delhi’s R.K. Puram, was attended by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, who served as the Chief Guest. The roadmap sets out a detailed plan to expand India’s nuclear capacity from its current level of approximately 8,180 MW as of early 2025, outl..