India to triple underground coal mining for energy needs

India is aiming to rejuvenate underground coal mining in an effort to increase production and address the country's rapidly growing energy requirements, despite global pressure to reduce the use of the environmentally harmful fossil fuel. According to Amrit Lal Meena, a senior official at India's coal ministry, the country is experiencing significant industrial and economic expansion, stating, India is on a high-orbit growth trajectory. He emphasised that coal continues to be a pivotal factor in India's economic progress and overall development. The coal ministry has outlined its intentions to triple the output from underground coal mines by 2028. This involves plans to auction new blocks, expedite environmental clearance procedures, and introduce incentives to encourage both foreign investment and domestic equipment manufacturing. India, the world's second-largest coal producer, currently derives 95 percent of its coal from opencast mines situated on the surface, relying on this fuel source for approximately three-quarters of its power generation. Despite the prevalent use of opencast mining, underground tunnel mining, which is more common in countries like China and Australia, has experienced a sharp decline in recent decades due to increased costs and associated risks. The decision to intensify underground mining efforts aligns with India's pursuit of new coal sources to meet the escalating energy demands of the world's most populous country and the fastest-growing large economy.