India has the world's 5th largest coal reserves and coal accounts for 55% of the country's energy needs.
- India is adopting a multi-pronged strategy to modernise the sector, enhance environmental compliance, and reduce dependence on imports.
Sustainability Initiatives in the Coal Sector
- Greening and Bio-Reclamation: Afforestation of mined-out areas. Coal and Lignite PSU’s participation in MoEF&CC’s Green Credit Programme.
- Treated Mine Water Utilization: For community supply like irrigation, industrial uses (dust suppression, firefighting) and environmental services (recharge, fish farming).
- Extracting sand from Over Burden: For construction and stowing material supports sustainable development and riverine ecosystem revival.
- Blast-Free Mining Technology: Use of Surface Miners, Continuous Miners, Rippers to avoid drilling/blasting.
- Clean Coal & Renewable Energy Initiatives: Focus on Coal Gasification, Coal Bed Methane (CBM), etc.
Import Reduction Measures
- Enhancing Domestic Production & consumption: Coal blocks allocation, private sector participation and faster clearance. The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) was constituted for coal import substitution.
- Evacuation & Supply Chain Improvement: New railway lines, upgraded coal transportation systems, and First Mile Connectivity projects.
- Fiscal Support under SHAKTI Policy : Imported Coal-Based plants can now procure domestic coal more easily.
- Coking Coal Mission: Launched to boost domestic coking coal supply for the steel sector.