By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: 5 number of coal mines that have been closed/ discontinued/ abandoned between 2014 – 2022 in Odisha. 17 in Chhattisgarh, 29 in Jharkhand, 20 in Madhya Pradesh, 26 in West Bengal, 12 in Telangana, 13 in Maharashtra and 3 in Assam, were either closed/ discontinued/ abandoned between 2014 – 2022, Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
In India, transition away from coal is not happening in foreseeable future. Although India is pushing for renewable/non-fossil based energy, but the share of coal in the energy basket is going to remain significant in years ahead. India is augmenting its coal production for meeting its increasing energy needs.
Total coal consumption in India is yet to peak. The Economic Survey 2021-22 projects coal demand in the range of 1.3-1.5 billion tonnes by 2030 from the current level of about 1000 MT. It is projected that coal demand will continue to rise and may peak around 2040. Thus, despite thrust on renewable, coal is going to continue as a primary source of energy to meet the growing development needs of India.
