FCC

India to close 30 coal mines over next three to four years

2023-06-05

India's coal secretary Amrit Lal Meena has said that around 30 coal mines will close over the next three to four years. The closures will pave the way for forests or water bodies and will also lead to a substantial reduction in the amount of imported coal.

Meena said that the closures would have a positive impact on the environment but would also have a negative impact on society and the community. He said that the livelihoods of around five million people who are directly or indirectly involved in the coal industry would be affected.

The Coal Secretary said that the government is working to ensure that the impact on the community is minimised. He said that the de-coaled land would be used for environment-friendly purposes such as filling it with fly ash creating forest cover and developing agricultural land.

Meena also said that the government is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2026. He said that this will be achieved by increasing the use of renewable energy such as solar power.

The coal secretary said that India is still heavily reliant on coal for power generation but that this is expected to change in the future. He said that the government is working to increase the use of renewable energy and that by 2040 only 31 per cent of India's power will come from coal.

The closures of the coal mines are part of a wider effort by India to reduce its reliance on coal and move towards a cleaner energy future.