Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the first commercial coal mine, Namchik-Namphuk Coal Block, in Arunachal Pradesh on October 6, 2025.

Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the first commercial coal mine, Namchik-Namphuk Coal Block, in Arunachal Pradesh on October 6, 2025.
The Coal Ministry stated that the mine is expected to generate more than ₹100 crore in annual revenue for the state, creating employment and prosperity for the youth.
The Ministry also mentioned that this initiative advances Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of East - Empowerment, Action, Strengthening, Transformation.
During the event, Mr. Reddy also participated in a tree plantation drive under the 100 Tree Plantation Initiative.
This initiative advances Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the East—Empower, Act, Strengthen, Transform—which serves as a guiding philosophy for every initiative in the Northeast.

‘Namchik-Namphuk’

The Namchik-Namphuk Coal Block, with reserves of 1.5 crore tonnes, was first allocated in 2003 but faced long delays and interruptions due to various challenges.
It was revived in 2022 through a transparent auction process, opening doors for private sector participation and ending years of delay.
With this development, Arunachal Pradesh has joined India’s coal journey. India, the world’s second-largest coal producer, surpassed the record of 1 billion tonnes of production last year.
For the first time, critical minerals are also being explored in Arunachal Pradesh, with two blocks in the state and five in Assam under auction, which are crucial for future technologies and national security.
The coal sector has already reclaimed 57,000 hectares of land and will reclaim another 16,000 hectares by 2030 under Mission Green Coal Region. Mining is being carried out as an economic, ecological, and community responsibility driven by public participation.