About Us

The outbreak of the Second World War soon changed the circumstances radically. Increased war demands gave stimulus to higher production resulting in increased industrial activity and technological development of new order. Steep fall in coal production coupled with increased demand brought about virtually a coal famine in the country. The railways were unable to cope with heavy pressure of military traffic and could not release adequate wagons for loading of coal during emergency.

There was in fact, a sellers’ market with demand for coal far exceeding supply. Misuse of our limited coking coal reserves for non-metallurgical purposes, absence of quality control, ignorance of consumers regarding fuel economy and efficiency measures coupled with unscientific and slaughtered mining causing enormous loss to the nation did not receive sufficient attention without proper representation of the consumers. In these circumstances, Coal Consumers’ Association of India was born on May 17, 1945 under the leadership of Late D.C. Driver of Tata Steel. Several large industrial coal consuming industries like Tata Steel, Indian Iron, Associated Cement and others extended their help and cooperation to provide a common platform to the coal consumers to voice their individual grievances effectively. The points of view of the Coal Consumers which were then channelised through the Association received better attention. Since then the Government started paying heed to their difficulties put forth through the Association. Never in the long history of the Coal Industry before, was the consumer of coal considered important or his voice was hard in the deliberation of vital question regarding production, conservation, price and marketing of coal. This was by every means a great achievement. The Association that started humbly with modest membership of only 22 Coal Consumers had 62 Members within a year of its existence. Thus the Association strengthened its foundation year after year, on which the present edifice stands.