India to Launch Green Coal Financial Package

13 Oct 2023 CW Team

Joshi emphasised the need to address the issue of abandoned coal mines and noted that India's electricity consumption is only one-third of the global average. He highlighted that India is among the top five solar power-producing countries in the world.

In the pursuit of a just transition in the coal sector, Joshi stressed the importance of adequately addressing the aspirations of grassroots-level communities. He also mentioned that Coal India Limited and its subsidiary units are actively focused on Clean Coal Technologies.

Coal Secretary Amrit Lal Meena, in a keynote address, pointed out that enhanced domestic coal production is contributing to India's economic growth. He emphasised the necessity of establishing a dedicated organisation with a strong institutional framework for the scientific closure of abandoned coal mines.

Additional Coal Secretary M. Nagaraju underlined the magnitude of the task at hand, stating that more than 300 abandoned coal mines need to be closed in an environmentally beneficial manner. He expressed optimism about the workshop's role in creating a knowledge bank for this purpose, and he mentioned that as a pilot project, 3-4 coal mines will be selected for scientific closure.

Dr. Anil Kumar Jain, Chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) and former coal secretary, highlighted the global energy transition momentum, emphasising the need for an effective technology framework for meaningful mine closure and rehabilitation.

The workshop featured five-panel discussions and breakout sessions, with participation from experts in the coal sector from both India and abroad, as well as experts from the World Bank.

India's Union Minister of Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, has announced that a financial package aimed at supporting sustainable coal mining and promoting green coal technology will be launched soon. The announcement came during the valedictory session of the National Workshop on Global Experience Sharing on Just Transition, organised by the Ministry of Coal. Joshi emphasised the need to address the issue of abandoned coal mines and noted that India's electricity consumption is only one-third of the global average. He highlighted that India is among the top five solar power-producing countries in the world. In the pursuit of a just transition in the coal sector, Joshi stressed the importance of adequately addressing the aspirations of grassroots-level communities. He also mentioned that Coal India Limited and its subsidiary units are actively focused on Clean Coal Technologies. Coal Secretary Amrit Lal Meena, in a keynote address, pointed out that enhanced domestic coal production is contributing to India's economic growth. He emphasised the necessity of establishing a dedicated organisation with a strong institutional framework for the scientific closure of abandoned coal mines. Additional Coal Secretary M. Nagaraju underlined the magnitude of the task at hand, stating that more than 300 abandoned coal mines need to be closed in an environmentally beneficial manner. He expressed optimism about the workshop's role in creating a knowledge bank for this purpose, and he mentioned that as a pilot project, 3-4 coal mines will be selected for scientific closure. Dr. Anil Kumar Jain, Chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) and former coal secretary, highlighted the global energy transition momentum, emphasising the need for an effective technology framework for meaningful mine closure and rehabilitation. The workshop featured five-panel discussions and breakout sessions, with participation from experts in the coal sector from both India and abroad, as well as experts from the World Bank.

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