Lok Sabha Question No. 584 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: New Coal Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Bellana, Chinta Anuradha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 584

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2023

## New Coal Mines

## 584. SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA: SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  development  of  99  new  coal mines;
- (b) if so, the details of the proposed projects State-wise; and
- (c) whether the Government plans to adhere to its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of cutting down 1 billion tonne carbon emissions by 2030 and reduce carbon intensity of the economy to less than 45 percent, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

Reply (a) & (b) : Not just 99 coal mines, many more coal mines have been offered for allocation to interested bidders through  a  most  transparent auction process for  commercial  mining  launched  in  2020.  Till  date,  7  rounds  of commercial auctions  have  been  completed  and  91  coal  mines  have  been  successfully auctioned with PRC of 221 MTPA. The 8th round of commercial auctions has been launched on November 15,  2023  offering  35  mines. Overall, a  large  nos. of mines are under development to meet the domestic coal demand. The coal production from captive/ commercial blocks during  the last 3 years is as under:

| Year                         | Captive (MT)                 | Commercial (MT)   |   Total (MT) |
|------------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------|--------------|
| 2020-21                      | 63.14                        | Nil               |        63.14 |
| 2021-22                      | 84.17                        | 1.15              |        85.32 |
| 2022-23                      | 109.33                       | 7.22              |       116.55 |
| 2023-2024(Till Nov'23) 77.36 | 2023-2024(Till Nov'23) 77.36 | 6.64              |        84    |

Reply (c) India has an enhanced target to reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030 from 2005 level and achieve about 50 percent cumulative  electric  power  installed  capacity  from  non-fossil  fuel-based energy  resources  by  2030.  The  other  targets  are  to  create  an  additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest  and  tree  cover  by  2030;  propagate  sustainable  lifestyles  through  a mass movement of 'LIFE' (Lifestyle for Environment) as a key to combati ng climate change; to better adapt to climate change; adopt climate friendly and cleaner development path; mobilize domestic, new and additional funds and capacity building. India  has  progressively  continued  decoupling  of  economic  growth  from greenhouse  gas  emissions. India's emission  intensity  of  gross  domestic product (GDP) has reduced by 24 per cent between 2005 and 2016. Even though, India is not part of the problem, it is part of the solution, and has done far more than its fair share in addressing the climate change.

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