The Ministry of Coal has unveiled new measures to minimize carbon emissions in coal mining operations, aligning with India’s Panchamrit and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments. The government is promoting sustainable mining practices while encouraging green initiatives across coal and lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
Key Carbon Reduction Strategies in Coal Mining
- Greening Initiatives: Coal and lignite PSUs are actively reclaiming and afforesting mined-out areas to reduce their environmental footprint.
- Energy Efficiency Measures: Initiatives include replacing conventional lights with LED lighting, deploying electric vehicles (EVs), using super fans, and installing energy-efficient motors for pumps.
- Green Credit Program: Coal PSUs are participating in large-scale plantation drives under the Green Credit Program initiated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
- First Mile Connectivity (FMC) Projects: Upgrading coal transportation systems to mechanized and rail-based models reduces diesel consumption and emissions.
- Blast-Free Technology: Adoption of Surface Miners and Continuous Miners eliminates drilling, blasting, and crushing, thereby reducing pollution.
- Renewable Energy Integration: Coal PSUs are investing in solar and wind energy projects and exploring clean coal technologies like coal gasification and coal bed methane (CBM) extraction.
Sustainability in Mining Operations
The government has mandated compliance with Environmental Clearance (EC), Forest Clearance (FC), Consent to Operate (CTO), and Consent to Establish (CTE) regulations. Other efforts include:
- Re-purposing de-coaled areas for renewable energy generation and community agriculture.
- Mine reclamation and eco-restoration initiatives such as developing eco-parks and tourism sites.
While these measures aim to reduce carbon emissions, the Ministry of Coal confirmed that there is no specific directive requiring mining companies to review their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports periodically for carbon emissions monitoring.
This information was shared by Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
