<p>Coal India Chairman Pramod Agrawal on Monday said there is a "strong case" for increasing coal prices, and the hike could be effected "very soon" as discussions are underway with stakeholders.</p>.<p>Agrawal also said he is confident the mining behemoth will achieve its production target of 1 billion tonnes by 2025-26.</p>.<p>"There is a strong case for increasing coal prices, as that has not happened in the last five-odd years. This year, the wage negotiation has taken place as well, which will have an impact on CIL's financial condition, especially for a few subsidiaries where the manpower cost is very high.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/railways-gear-up-to-supply-wagons-to-transport-coal-to-power-plants-1195988.html" target="_blank">Railways gear up to supply wagons to transport coal to power plants</a></strong></p>.<p>"There will be a lot of problems if prices are not hiked. Discussions are underway with stakeholders... It will happen very soon," Agrawal said at the Indian Coal Markets Conference here organized by Mjunction.</p>.<p>Elaborating on the 1 billion tonne production target, he said though CIL is on course to achieve this by 2025-26, it will depend on factors like the need of the country and the growth of the private sector.</p>.<p>"What is important is the readiness to produce. No country can develop unless its energy resources are secured - so we should be in readiness to produce if requirement is there, if not, the output can be adjusted accordingly," Agrawal said.</p>.<p>The CIL chief added that the company is aiming to raise underground coal production to 100 million tonnes by 2030 from around 25-30 million tonnes at present.</p>
<p>Coal India Chairman Pramod Agrawal on Monday said there is a "strong case" for increasing coal prices, and the hike could be effected "very soon" as discussions are underway with stakeholders.</p>.<p>Agrawal also said he is confident the mining behemoth will achieve its production target of 1 billion tonnes by 2025-26.</p>.<p>"There is a strong case for increasing coal prices, as that has not happened in the last five-odd years. This year, the wage negotiation has taken place as well, which will have an impact on CIL's financial condition, especially for a few subsidiaries where the manpower cost is very high.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/railways-gear-up-to-supply-wagons-to-transport-coal-to-power-plants-1195988.html" target="_blank">Railways gear up to supply wagons to transport coal to power plants</a></strong></p>.<p>"There will be a lot of problems if prices are not hiked. Discussions are underway with stakeholders... It will happen very soon," Agrawal said at the Indian Coal Markets Conference here organized by Mjunction.</p>.<p>Elaborating on the 1 billion tonne production target, he said though CIL is on course to achieve this by 2025-26, it will depend on factors like the need of the country and the growth of the private sector.</p>.<p>"What is important is the readiness to produce. No country can develop unless its energy resources are secured - so we should be in readiness to produce if requirement is there, if not, the output can be adjusted accordingly," Agrawal said.</p>.<p>The CIL chief added that the company is aiming to raise underground coal production to 100 million tonnes by 2030 from around 25-30 million tonnes at present.</p>