Summary: Secretary, Ministry of Coal said that with enhanced domestic coal production, India’s coal sector is giving the right fillip to economic growth. He said that a dedicated organization with the strong institutional framework is necessary for the scientific closure of abandoned coal mines.

To further strengthen sustainable coal mining in India and to focus on green coal technology, a financial outlay will be started soon, said Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi.

The minister was addressing the valedictory session of the national workshop on “Global Experience Sharing on Just Transition”, organised here today by the ministry.

Underscoring the importance of the scientific closure of abandoned coal mines, the Minister said that India’s electricity consumption is only one-third of the global average.

At the same time, India is one of the top five solar power-producing countries in the world. “While ensuring just transition in the coal sector, aspirations of grassroots level people have to be addressed adequately,” he added.

Joshi also stated that Coal India and its subsidiary units are focused on pursuing Clean Coal Technologies.

In his keynote address, Shri Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, said, “With enhanced domestic coal production, India’s coal sector is giving the right fillip to economic growth.” He added, “A dedicated organization with a strong institutional framework is necessary for the scientific closure of abandoned coal mines”.

Shri M Nagaraju, Additional Secretary of the Ministry said, “More than 300 abandoned coal mines need to be closed in a scientific manner benefiting the environment and the people living nearby“. “This workshop is a step in the right direction to evolve a knowledge bank for the same“, he added. In the initial stage, as a pilot project three to four coal mines will be taken up for scientific closure, he said.

Earlier, Anil Kumar Jain, Chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) and former Secretary of the Coal Ministry said, “Globally, the pace of energy transition is very fast and a very effective technology framework is needed for meaningful mine closure and rehabilitation“.

As part of the workshop, five panel discussions and breakout sessions were held. Besides eminent experts from the coal sector within the country and abroad, World Bank experts also attended the one-day workshop.