Dynamite Explosion in Meghalaya Resurfaces Banned Rat Hole Mining Concerns 

Dynamite explosion, one of the worst mining disasters, that took place in a mine in Meghalaya has resurfaced the concerns about banned rat hole mining. The disaster led to the death of 30 people so far, leaving nine people injured, reported Mongabay. 

Rat hole mining is an illegal method of coal extraction in which miners crawl through very narrow tunnels and remove coal seams. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a ban on rat hole mining in Meghalaya in 2014, citing environmental damage and safety risks, also restricting illegal transportation of coal. 

MP’s Power Discoms Accumulate ₹71,395 crore in Losses 

Madhya Pradesh’s three electricity discoms posted the loss of ₹71,395 crore and has emerged as the country's largest financial sinkholes. High AT&C losses, wide ACS-ARR gaps, delayed tariff revisions, and mounting government dues have been attributed to the financial loss by the discoms, reported ET EnergyWorld. 

The report noted that MP alone accumulated 11% India’s total discom losses. At the national level, power distribution companies have accumulated a loss of ₹6.47 lakh crore. This also underscored the depth of financial stress over multiple regions, despite years of reform-linked support and bailout packages. 

Buying Oil from US in India’s Interests as Country Moves to Diversify Energy Resources

Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that buying crude from the United States (US) will be in India's strategic interests as the country sets to diversify its energy resources. Goyal further added that the decision rests firmly with corporations and commercial buyers, and not with trade negotiators, reported ET EnergyWorld. 

Goyal sought to draw the clear distinction between India’s energy strategy and the scope of the India-US Bilateral trade arrangement. 

Oil Prices Up 1% as Middle East Tensions Offset US Crude Stock

Oil prices were up 1% due to the escalating tensions between Iran and the US and a weekly report showing a large build in US crude inventories limited gains, reported Reuters.

While President Donald Trump said that there’s nothing definitive decided on Iran, the negotiations with the country will likely continue. Additionally, US and Iranian diplomats held indirect talks last week in Oman, amid a regional naval buildup by the U.S. threatening Iran. The date and venue of the next round of U.S.-Iran talks have yet to be announced.

China to Record Slowest Growth for Coal Output in 2026 Despite Lower Imports

China’s coal output will rise 35 million metric tonnes to 4.86 billion tonnes in 2026, the slowest place this decade despite projections of a second fall in annual imports due to Indonesia, their top supplier, halting spot exports, reported Reuters. 

Production of coal in China is set to rise 0.7% this year, imports are expected to fall 5.1% to 465 million tonnes, according to the China Coal Transportation and Distribution department.