Coal in India is primarily found in the sedimentary rock formations of the Gondwana and tertiary period. The distribution of coal in India is uneven and it is mainly found in the eastern and southern parts of the country.
The major coalfields in India and their respective locations are:
- Jharia coalfield: Located in Jharkhand
- Raniganj coalfield: Located in West Bengal
- Singrauli coalfield: Located in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
- Talcher coalfield: Located in Odisha
- Korba coalfield: Located in Chhattisgarh
- Godavari Valley coalfield: Located in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
- Wardha Valley coalfield: Located in Maharashtra
- Ib Valley coalfield: Located in Odisha
- Rajmahal coalfield: Located in Jharkhand
- Tadpatri coalfield: Located in Andhra Pradesh
The Jharia coalfield is the largest coalfield in India, with estimated reserves of over 19 billion tonnes. The Raniganj coalfield is the second-largest, followed by the Singrauli coalfield. The Godavari Valley coalfield is one of the newer coalfields in India, with estimated reserves of over 11 billion tonnes.
India is the third-largest coal-producing country in the world after China and the United States, with coal production primarily concentrated in the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal. Coal accounts for around 55% of India’s energy needs, making it an important source of energy for the country.
