'Net-zero' claims unfounded; coal production increased by 14.77%

In order to achieve India's goal of reaching Net Zero, it is imperative to decrease reliance on coal for electricity and prioritize non-fossil energy sources. However, during a session in the Lok Sabha on August 2nd, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi said that coal production in the country had actually increased by 8.51% by June this year. Furthermore, it is alarming to note that in the year 2022-23, coal production had escalated by 14.77% compared to previous years.

Questioning in the House, MPs Varun Gandhi, Veena Devi and Anil Ferozia jointly asked whether any steps have been taken by the government to reduce the import of coal and increase the production of coal in the country. In response to this, these statistics were presented in the House by the Union Minister.

The government told that it is constantly making efforts to increase the production of coal. In the 7th round of auction last March, the government decided to auction 106 mines. During this, Union Coal & Mines Minister Prahlad Joshi said that the government will encourage those private players who will first start production from the mines.

Promotion of miners

While on the one hand, the government is talking about promoting private mining companies, on the other hand, it is working on technology and projects to increase production in the public sector as well. According to the answer given in the House, Coal India Limited will increase the number of its underground mines as well as promote the use of mass production technology to ensure maximum production in them. Along with this, SCCL is going to increase its production from 67 MT to 75 MT in the year 2023-24.

Presenting the figures from 2013-14 to 2022-23 in the House, the ministry said that coal production has increased by 58 per cent in the last 9 years. India was producing 565.77 MT of coal in the year 2013-14. Whereas in 2022-23, it reached 893.19 MT while increasing.

Dependence on coal for electricity

India is mainly dependent on coal for its electricity supply. According to statistics, about 73 per cent of electricity in India is currently being produced from coal. This figure is worrying for the environment. This is because coal is also the largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter. 64 per cent of the total carbon dioxide produced by India is due to fossil fuel and cement factories. In such a situation, dependence on coal for energy is being seen as a major obstacle in the way of reaching India's goal of Net Zero.

The question, then, is whether this increase in coal production and the goal of net zero can be met simultaneously. Answering this question, Soumya Dutta, co-convenor of the South Asian People's Action on Climate Crisis (SAPACC), says that these two things are not possible together in any way. Dutta explains the direct link between coal power generation and carbon emissions,

“Only 30 to 32 per cent of the total inheritable chemical energy of coal is converted into electricity. The rest is released into the water and air. That is why about 0.9 kg of carbon dioxide is released during 1 kW of electricity production in India.”

According to him, there is no possibility of reducing the dependence on coal for electricity in the coming days. In such a situation, all the promises of Net Zero are false.

Promise to close 30 mines in the next 4 years

Speaking at the third meeting of the Energy Transition Working Group in Mumbai in May this year, Amrutlal Meena, secretary in the coal ministry, said the government would close around 30 mines in the coming 3-4 years. The government will use about 2 lakh hectares of land vacated after the closure of these mines for agriculture, water body, forest construction and other environmental projects. Dutta puts this government claim in the dock. Asking questions to the government, he says that the government should tell whether such a forest has been built in a closed coal mine. He further explains,

  “Ash pond and overflow dumping in any closed coal mine make the soil so toxic that no plant can grow there for many years .”

India is witnessing serious consequences of climate change. Recent floods and other natural calamities in different parts of the country are the latest examples of this. The increase in carbon emissions due to the increase in the production of coal in the country will give further impetus to these disasters. In such a situation, India's claims and its industrial policy in COP26 seem to be standing opposite to each other. Then the question remains in the mind whether the government is lying about net zero.

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