The minister added, “Despite push for renewables, country will require base load capacity of coal-based generation for stability and also for energy security.”
New Delhi: India’s demand for coal is expected to reach 1.3 to 1.5 billion tonne by 2030, Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi said in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Quoting the minister’s reply who referred to the Economic Survey, the Coal ministry statement said, “Coal is the most important and abundant fossil fuel in India and accounts for 55% of the country’s energy need. Commercial primary energy consumption in India has grown by about 700% in the last four decades. The current per capita commercial primary energy consumption in India is about 350 kgoe/year. Coal is not only the primary source of energy in the country but is also used as an intermediary by many industries such as steel, sponge iron, cement, paper, brick-kilns etc.”
Further adding, the ministry said, “With increase in growth of industries using coal, their demand for coal has also been increasing; hence, there has been an overall increase in the demand of coal over the years…Despite push for renewables, country will require base load capacity of coal-based generation for stability and also for energy security.”
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Referring to the Glasgow Climate Pact, the minister quoted the agreement between parties with regard to coal and fossil fuel subsidies and said, “Calls upon Parties to accelerate the development, deployment and dissemination of technologies, and the adoption of policies, to transition towards low emission energy systems, including by rapidly scaling up the deployment of clean power generation and energy efficiency measures, including accelerating efforts towards the phasedown of unabated coal power and phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, while providing targeted support to the poorest and most vulnerable in line with National circumstances and recognizing the need for support towards a just transition.”
He then added, “It is evident that above paragraph is not mandating the phase down of coal power, and it is not setting any timelines for the phase down. Further, the paragraph is only ‘calling upon’ Parties to accelerate efforts towards the phase down of unabated coal power in line with national circumstances and recognizing the need for support towards a just transition. Paris Agreement is a multilateral treaty for combating climate change.”
Joshi concluded by saying, “Accordingly, while India has committed to clean energy; the pace of transition to cleaner energy sources in India is to be viewed in the light of national circumstances, and principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, the transfer of climate finance and low cost climate technologies.”
