India’s coal ministry in green push towards sustainability, net-zero emissions by 2070
The Indian coal ministry now moves further in the direction of sustainability and energy security to achieve the objectives of net-zero emissions by 2070. It will make sure that the entire process remains in line with the environment goals of the government by promoting economic growth simultaneously, while preserving the environment.
Coal has always been an integral part of the Indian development process.
All this, of course, notwithstanding international trends that are shifting towards renewable sources of energy, coal remains at the heart of India’s energy mix and economic policies. India needs its energy and the coal sector keeps millions employed, but the ministry of coal is also discussing whether there is a need to shift to modern standards of sustainability.
Coal Minister in Union, G Kishan Reddy has informed parliament committee that he will share further critical roles to be played through coals development in the country on December 19. At the same time, that he made these words the Coal Ministry was assiduously taking ecological care with all things that it lately undertakes in cutting its sectoral carbon footprint. Coal production could not even ignore the environmental responsibilities towards welfare of society and conservation of biodiversity, said the minister.
Reddy emphasized that the coal sector would support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. This vision involves enhancing coal production while minimizing its environmental impact.
Key Green Initiatives in the Coal Sector
The Coal Ministry will undertake a series of activities to counter the environmental effects of coal mining and production. The efforts have been in line with the newly launched India Mission LiFE campaign with its appeal for sustainable lifestyles. The list of activities covered during the meeting included such names as senior ministry officials along with public sector undertaking chiefs in India, including both Coal India Ltd. and NLC India Ltd.
One of the major contributions is afforestation and bio-reclamation of mined land. Such efforts restore affected ecosystems by mining activities. Another effort is compensatory afforestation being done in terms of the regulations of the environment such that the lost forest cover is replenished.
It’s indirect because it tries to make such moves on earth. This is through participation in the green credit program to help lure industries into steps deemed to decrease their impacts towards the environment. Another vital major move taken in this regard comprises mine water for the convenience of improvement in local peoples’ lives through water supply for irrigation and drinking water supply.
Alternative key strategies will come in the form of developing eco-parks and mine tourism sites that will go hand-in-hand with cooperative arrangements among the local communities, giving rise to incomes other than extraction. This endeavor is reasoned to be integrated into even greater social responsibility-related efforts for the coal sector.
Some of the initiatives that reduce pollution generated from coal operations are energy efficiency programs and installation of dust suppressant technologies. The main focus of its initiative is upgradation of first-mile connectivity, which will reduce emission due to the transportation of coal. To cut down dependence on trucks, which causes a lot of pollution, conveyor belts and other non-road transport options become operational.
Improvement in Energy Security and Reduction in Coal Imports
The improvement is that there’s less dependence on imported coals because the country’s coal industry promotes local production. So far, for April to October 2024, what the country produced within had already reached 537.57 million tonnes. By the same period last year, it went up to 6.04%. This already shows that the efforts are now to further improve self-energy sufficiency in the country while on the other hand minimizing foreign coal consumption.
Coal imports have declined 3.1 percent to 149.39 million tonnes from 154.17 million tonnes during the same period of the previous year. Importantly, for the non-regulated sector that excludes power generation, it has declined sharply by 8.8 percent. This, therefore, is the proof of India’s success in meeting energy requirements from home-produced coal.
Imports for blending in the power sector declined by 19.5 percent, implying that domestic coal was being used much more than imports. Imports of plants that use only imported coal increased by 38.4 percent. This means that though India is on the right path about reducing the import dependency, still a significant section of the energy sector remains dependent on imported coal.
A Greener Future for the Coal Sector
This green metamorphosis of India’s coal industry forms part of a larger scheme for the country to balance energy security and environmental sustainability. Measures such as afforestation, energy efficiency, and environment-friendly transport were undertaken so that the environmental footprint of the coal sector would not compromise its capability to meet the country’s burgeoning energy needs.
At the same time, it supports the domestic production; such a reduction in importing coal from overseas also adds to energy self-sufficiency by India. As these develop and mature, India’s coal industry is positioning for future that is not just more energy secure but even environmentally responsible.
Conclusion:The government aims to include green practices in the coal sector. This is a commitment of the country towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Coal will remain an integral part of the energy strategy of India. Under the pressure of sustainability, it will be able to contribute to the nation’s development goals without compromising its environmental responsibility. Transformation of the coal sector falls under the overall energy and climate strategy for India. The aim is to ensure the increasing population and economy within the country do not suffer from the lack of affordable and reliable energy even while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions.
Source: ESG TIMES