India’s energy requirements are more than two thirds of its total coal consumption. AFP
India has relaxed environmental compliance standards for coal mines in order to increase production. This was revealed in a government notice.
India’s energy needs account for more than two thirds of its coal consumption. Unseasonably hot weather also highlights the threat from climate changes caused by burning fossil fuels.
India faces a 25-million-tonne shortfall because of rising temperatures. This is at a moment when coal spot prices are on the rise since the beginning.
The environment ministry stated in a May 7 letter that it had granted a special dispensation for the coal ministry to allow it to relax certain requirements such as public consultations, so that mines can operate at higher capacities.
After receiving a request by the coal ministry, which stated that there is a great deal of pressure on the country’s domestic coal supply, the ministry has relaxed its position and all efforts are being made for meeting the demand for coal in all sectors.
The authority stated that coal mining projects that were previously approved to operate at 40% capacity can now be expanded to 50% without the need for new environmental impact studies.
The government launched a new scheme last Wednesday to lease abandoned coal pits to private mining firms, assuring them fast-track environmental approvals.
Anil Kumar Jain, a coal ministry official, stated that the Ministry of Environment and Forests recognizes the need to reduce red tape at the launch event. It was held on May 6.
The government hopes to attract private mining giants such as Vedanta or Adani to help revive more than 100 abandoned coal mines that were previously too costly to operate.
India needs to consume a billion tonnes of coal each year to meet its current domestic demands.
Domestic producers provide the majority of the country’s needs, with a record 777m tonnes of mined material in the fiscal year ending March.
The shortfall comes from countries like South Africa, Australia, and Indonesia.
The government stated that it will increase domestic coal production to 1.2 million tonnes over the next two year to support a recovery after a pandemic.
Pralhad Joshi, coal and mining minister, said that India’s coal needs will more than double by 2040, despite making commitments to increase its renewable power capacity to 175GW in 2022 and 500GW in 2030.
Experts say India’s renewed focus on accelerating coal-production could lead to India not fulfilling Prime Minister NarendraModis COP26 commitment, to meet 50% of energy demands through renewable energy by 2030.
The UN projects that the world’s third-largest carbon emitter, already home of 1.4 billion people by the middle decade, will be the planet’s most populous country.
