Coal demand in India to surge by 63% by 2030

The draft Economic Survey 2021-22 projects coal demand in the range of 1.3 billion tonnes to 1.5 billion tonnes by 2030, a surge of 63% from the present demand. In India, the transition away from coal is not happening in the foreseeable future. Although there will be a drive for renewable or non-fossil based energy, the share of coal in the energy basket is going to remain vital in the years ahead. Coal demand in the nation is yet to increase. Presently, there is no scenario of transition away from coal impacting any stakeholders included in coal mining. The Ministry of Coal has formed a Sub-Committee to look into holistic closure of abandoned/legacy mine sites and mines closing due to exhaustion of reserves, viability problems etc, and involving social aspects of mine closure on principles of just change in addition to physical and environmental closure. On 22 March, Union Minister of Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi told the media that India's coal ministry would seek a relaxation of some environmental norms to help improve India's overall coal production. Image Source Also read: Global demand for coal electricity rose 6% to 7,906 mt in 2021