India, Aug. 15 -- India's coal demand is likely to touch 1.6 billion tonnes per annum by 2030, a top Government official said on Friday, underlining the need for transparent and market-driven pricing for the commodity.

Speaking at the Global Commodities Conclave here, Union Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt said that the setting up of the 'coal exchange', a Government-established platform designed to work as an independent marketplace, will be of help.

He said in each of the last two fiscal years, domestic coal production has crossed 1 billion metric tonnes and the demand is continuing to grow as the commodity is a mainstay of energy needs.

"Coal demand is projected to rise further to an estimated 1.6 billion tonnes by 2030," Dutt said, a...