With the world shunning fossil fuels, the demand for coal in India’s energy mix is expected to drop by half by 2047, suggest experts.
The share of coal in the country’s electricity mix is currently at 70 per cent, with India achieving over one billion tonnes of coal production in FY25 and coal-based power alone contributing 72 per cent to the total electricity generation.
P M Prasad, former chairman and managing director of Coal India Ltd, said that over the coming three to four decades, focus must shift to using fossil fuels responsibly and slashing carbon emissions in whichever way is feasible.
“By 2047, coal’s share is expected to come down from the current levels to around 30-35 per cent. We understand that. But as long as that 35 per cent remains, we must develop responsibly,” he said.
Prasad is currently the chairman of the India Chapter of FutureCoal – a global alliance for sustainable coal use. The India Chapter was launched with Coal India Limited and Gainwell Engineering as founding members, and promotes FutureCoal’s Sustainable Coal Stewardship roadmap, which deploys technologies capable of reducing emissions by up to 99 per cent.
Prasad believes that with public sector mining and power generation company NLC India pioneering robust environmental standards, replicating these across 300 mines could help deliver another 20-30 per cent cut in dust emissions and pollutants.
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FutureCoal Chief Executive, Michelle Manook, said that while coal’s overall share will evolve over time, the focus must be on using it as efficiently and responsibly as possible.
“With rising energy demand driven by data centres and AI, ensuring reliable, secure, and affordable power through sustainable coal practices is more important than ever,” she added.
Dipankar Banerjee, Whole-Time Director & CEO of Gainwell Engineering, said that coal is the cheapest source of energy, and therefore much more affordable for developing countries such as India, Africa, China, Russia, and Southeast Asia, who cannot afford renewable energy at scale.
While nuclear energy is reliable, it is also very expensive. Seventy-three per cent of India’s power generation comes from coal, which pollutes and emits carbon, he said.
“So the question is, how do we ensure that coal is used more efficiently and responsibly? This is where FutureCoal steps in; it focuses on discussions and initiatives around sustainable coal usage,” he said.
FutureCoal provides a global platform for mining companies, manufacturers and other stakeholders to discuss innovation, technology and ways to use coal sustainably
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