Coal mountain by 2030, pause by 2040

The Central government - has outlined plans to create a domestic thermal coal stock ranging from 1.8 to 2.5 billion tonnes by 2030-32, with a subsequent pause on production for the next decade. 

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Despite India not participating in global agreements to phase down coal production and usage, the Ministry of Coal projects a coal demand of 1.5-1.8 billion tonnes by 2030. The government aims to establish a buffer stock of over 0.5-1 billion tonnes to manage potential demand fluctuations, considering factors such as renewable energy's ability to meet electricity demand and variations in power demand.

Ministry officials emphasize the importance of maintaining a base energy source, even if renewable energy achieves its targeted 500 gigawatts by 2030. The initial estimate suggested that 1.5 billion tonnes of coal would meet the projected electricity demand of 350 gigawatts by the end of this decade. However, with this year's demand surpassing projections, officials advocate building surplus capacity to address unforeseen contingencies.