Government Initiatives to Boost Domestic Manufacturing of Heavy Mining Equipment​

This initiative aims to strengthen India’s industrial base, improve mining efficiency, and support the broader “Make in India” vision. The vision was underlined by Mr Vikram Dev Dutt , IAS who is the Secretary Coal to government of India

Current Dependence on Imports

India’s mining industry has long relied on imported high-capacity machinery. For instance, Coal India Limited (CIL), the nation’s largest coal producer, imports electric rope shovels, hydraulic shovels, and other key equipment, with import bills totaling around ₹3,500 crore annually. Additionally, CIL pays nearly ₹1,000 crore in customs duties for these imports. These figures highlight the significant economic burden and the need for domestic alternatives.

Policy Push for Local Manufacturing

To address this, the Ministry of Coal is actively encouraging both domestic and international manufacturers to set up production units in India. The goal is to gradually eliminate dependence on imported mining equipment over the next 5–6 years. Local manufacturing is expected to ensure quicker access to spare parts, reduce operational downtime, and lower overall costs.

Formation of a High-Level Committee

The government has established a high-level committee comprising officials from various ministries, public and private sector enterprises, and industry experts. This committee will devise actionable strategies to promote indigenous production of Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM) and underground mining equipment like continuous miners, hydraulic shovels, and high wall miners.

Encouraging Global Collaboration

The initiative also supports forming joint ventures and collaborations between Indian firms and globally recognized equipment manufacturers. Such partnerships will allow for the transfer of advanced technology, upskilling of local workers, and the creation of a competitive domestic ecosystem for mining equipment manufacturing.

Expected Benefits

• Economic Savings: Reducing imports will save significant foreign exchange and lower capital costs.

• Employment Generation: New manufacturing units will create jobs across engineering, assembly, logistics, and maintenance sectors.

• Improved Mining Efficiency: Local availability of parts and equipment will reduce project delays and maintenance downtime.

• Technology Advancement: Global collaborations will help bring cutting-edge technology to Indian manufacturing.