Lok Sabha Question No. 2478 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-16
Subject: Demand for Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Feroze Varun Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2478 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2022

## Demand for Coal

2478.  SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry was consulted before India's declaration at COP21 that India would phase down the use of coal and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  as  per  Economic  Survey,  the  demand  for  coal  in  India  would  be between 1.3-1.5 billion tones by 2030;
- (c)  if  so,  whether  the  Ministry  acknowledges  that  this  is  a  massive  increase from the current demand for coal; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  manner  in  which  the  Ministry  plans  to  keep  up  with  the declaration that India would phase down coal?

## Answer

## MINISTER OF  PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a):  Due consultations were held for finalizing India's approach for negotiations at COP 21 and prior to signing the Paris Agreement.

(b)to(d): Yes, Sir. As per Economic Survey, the demand for coal is expected to remain in the range of 1.3-1.5 billion tonnes by 2030.

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. Similarly, 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.

Being an affordable source of energy with substantial reserve, coal is going to stay  as  major  source  of  energy  in  the  foreseeable  future.  Despite  push  for renewables, country will require base load capacity of coal-based generation for stability and also for energy security.

Overarching decisions titled 'Glasgow Climate Pact' reflect the following agreement between parties with regard to coal and fossil fuel subsidies:

' 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'.

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.

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.

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