Coal is a naturally occurring Conventional Energy Resource which formed due to compaction and sedimentation during the Carboniferous period about 300 million years ago. It is the most important and abundant fossil fuel in India. It provides 55 percent of the country's energy requirements. Hard coal deposits, which are spread across 27 major coalfields, are primarily found in the country's eastern and south-central regions. The lignite reserves are estimated to be around 36 billion tonnes, with 90 percent of them located in Tamil Nadu, India's southernmost state. This article will explain to you about Coal as an Energy Resource in India which will be helpful in preparing for Geography for the UPSC Civil service exam.

India's Coal Sector

• India's industrial history is based on domestic coal.
• In the last four decades, India's commercial primary energy consumption has increased by roughly 700 percent.
• India's current commercial primary energy consumption per capita is around 350 kg/year, which is significantly lower than that of developed countries.
• India's energy consumption is expected to rise as a result of its growing population, expanding economy, and desire for a better quality of life.
• Given the limited reserve potentiality of petroleum and natural gas, environmental constraints on hydel projects, and the geopolitical perception of nuclear power, coal will continue to play a prominent role in India's energy scenario.

Types of Coal

It can be divided into the following types based on the amount of carbon it contains:

Anthracite

• This is the highest quality coal, with a carbon content of 80 to 95 percent.
• It has a very low volatile matter content and negligible moisture content.
• It's a tough, compact, jet black coal with a semi-metallic luster.
• It is the most valuable and has the highest heating value of all the coal varieties.
• It is only found in small quantities in India, and only in Jammu and Kashmir (in Kalakot).

Bituminous

• This is the most common coal. It has a wide range of carbon content (60 to 80 percent) and moisture content.
• It's dense and compact, and it's usually black.
• It contains no traces of the original vegetable material from which it was made.
• It has a high calorific value due to its high carbon content and low moisture content.
• Bituminous coal is used not only for steam generation and heating but also for the production of coke and gas due to its high quality.
• Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh produce the majority of bituminous coal.

Lignite

• Lignite, also known as brown coal, is lower-grade coal with a carbon content of 40 to 55 percent.
• It is the first stage in the transformation of woody matter into coal. It ranges in color from dark to black-brown.
• Because of its high moisture content (over 35%), it produces a lot of smoke but little heat.
• It can be found in Rajasthan's Palna, Tamil Nadu's Neyveli, Assam's Lakhimpur, and Jammu and Kashmir's Karewa.

Peat

• This is the first stage of wood's transformation into coal, and it contains less than 40 to 55 percent carbon, a lot of volatile matter, and a lot of moisture.
• It is rarely compact enough to make a good fuel without being compressed into bricks.
• When left to its own devices, it behaves like wood, emitting less heat, producing more smoke, and producing a lot of ash.

Coal Production

• It was possible to increase the all-India coal production to 730.354 million tonnes in 2018-19 with a positive growth of 7.9% thanks to a sustained investment program and a greater emphasis on the application of modern technologies.
• To meet the needs of the consuming sectors in various regions, Coal India Limited has established Regional Sales Offices and Sub-Sales Offices across the country.

Coal India Limited (CIL)

• The world's largest coal mining company, Coal India Limited (CIL), provides about 85% of India's domestic coal production.
• India's political economy is based on coal.
• The central government owns roughly three-quarters of CIL, which generates revenue for the government through dividends and coal-related taxes.
• CIL provides significant tax revenue and employment in these areas.
• The majority of domestic coal is transported by Indian Railways, which overcharges for coal transport to subsidize passenger transport.
• Coal transportation is often the largest component of coal costs for power plants located far from mines.

Coal Reserves

• Up until April 2018, a total of 319.02 billion tonnes of geological coal resources had been estimated in the country as a result of exploration carried out up to a maximum depth of 1200 meters.
• Hard coal deposits, which are spread across 27 major coalfields, are primarily found in the country's eastern and south-central regions.
• The world's lignite reserves are estimated to be around 36 billion tonnes, with 90 percent of them located in Tamil Nadu, India's southernmost state.
• Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh are the top five states in India in terms of total coal reserves.

Categories

The distribution of coal in India is in two categories

• Gondwana Coalfields - 250 million years old
• Tertiary Coalfields - 15 to 60 million years old.

Gondwana Coalfields

• Gondwana coal accounts for 98 % of India's total coal reserves and 99 percent of its coal production.
• Gondwana coal is moisture-free and high in phosphorus and sulfur.
• When compared to Carboniferous coal, Gondwana coal has a lower carbon content (that is 350 million years old which is almost absent in India because of its much younger age).
• India's metallurgical grade and superior quality coal come from Gondwana coal.
• The Damuda series (Lower Gondwana) has the best-worked coalfields in India, accounting for 80% of total coal production.
• The Damuda series of rock systems [named after the Damodar river] is home to 80 of India's 113 coalfields.
• These basins can be found in the valleys of rivers such as the Damodar (Jharkhand-West Bengal), Mahanadi (Chhattisgarh-Odisha), Son (Madhya Pradesh-Jharkhand), Godavari and Wardha (Maharashtra-Andhra Pradesh), Indravati, Narmada, Koel, Panch, Kanhan, and others.
• The volatile compounds and ash (typically 13–30%) prevent the carbon percentage from rising above 55–60%.

Tertiary Coalfields

• It has a low carbon content but is high in moisture and sulfur.
• Extra-peninsular regions are primarily home to tertiary coalfields.
• Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, the Himalayan foothills of Darjeeling in West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala are all important regions of tertiary coalfields.
• There are tertiary coal reserves in Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Pondicherry [exceptions].

Resources

• The older Gondwana Formations of peninsular India and the younger tertiary formations of the north-eastern region contain India's coal resources.
• The resources are classified as
  • 'Indicated' or 'Inferred' based on the results of Regional/ Promotional Exploration, where boreholes are typically spaced 1-2 kilometers apart.
  • Following that, in selected blocks where boreholes are less than 400 meters apart, detailed exploration upgrades the resources to the more reliable 'Proved/Measured' category.
• The table below shows India's coal resources by formation and category as of 1.4.2018:

Distribution of Coal in India

Tertiary Coal

• Tertiary coal fields are mostly found in conjunction with Eocene or Oligocene-Miocene limestone and slates (15 to 60 million years).
• They are mostly restricted to extra-peninsular areas. Some of these include:

Lignite

• After independence, the production of lignite coal increased dramatically.
• The following are the areas where lignite is produced:

Import of Coal

• According to the current import policy, coal can be freely imported (under Open General Licence) by consumers based on their commercial prudence and needs.
• Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and other steel manufacturing units import coking coal to bridge the gap between demand and indigenous availability, as well as to improve product quality.
• Non-coking coal is imported by coal-fired power plants, cement plants, captive power plants, sponge iron plants, industrial consumers, and coal traders.
• Pig-Iron manufacturers and Iron & Steel sector consumers use mini-blast furnaces to import coke.
• The following are the details of coal and coke imports over the last six years:

Government Initiatives

• The Ministry of Coal launched the UTTAM (Unlocking Transparency through Third Party Assessment of Mined Coal) application for coal quality monitoring in April 2018.
• The app's goal is to increase transparency and efficiency in the coal quality monitoring process, as well as bring coal governance closer to the people.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a new coal linkage policy that uses a reverse auction to ensure adequate fuel supply to power plants.
• The new policy will aid in ensuring that fuel is delivered to power plants in a timely and orderly manner.
• The Ministry of Coal has developed the Online Coal Clearances System to give its investors a single point of contact for all permissions, clearances, and approvals granted by the Ministry of Coal.
• The Coal Allocation Monitoring System (CAMS) was created to track the transparent allocation of coal by CIL to States, States to SNA, and SNA to such consumers.
• Commercial coal mining is being made available to Indian and foreign companies in the private sector.
• On February 20, 2018, the CCEA approved the methodology for auctioning coal mines/blocks for commodity sale.

Significance

• India's coal still accounts for half of the country's commercial primary energy and is the primary source of electricity generation.
• Miners rarely have to go too deep underground in opencast coal mines because the machinery does the majority of the heavy lifting and extraction is relatively simple.
• Coal is safe to transport and does not require specialized storage or transfer equipment, which are some of the factors that drive up the cost of other types of power.
• Coal can be stored for an indefinite period if kept cool and dry.
• When compared to a wood-burning stove or heat provided by oil or gas, coal-fired electricity is significantly less expensive.
• Coal power and related industries employ a large number of people in many different communities.

Disadvantages

• Carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphuric acids, and arsenic are all produced when coal is burned.
• CO2 levels in the atmosphere combine with particulates in the air, increasing the sun's rays' reflective power.
• They retain heat instead of dissipating it, contributing to global warming.
• Coal is a high-volume product that necessitates extensive transportation networks across the country.
• Each vehicle contributes to pollution of the environment through its emissions.
• Even wearing protective equipment can't always keep miners safe from getting sick.
• The most well-known of these is coal miners' pneumoconiosis, or black lung disease, which occurs when coal dust settles on a miner's lungs after prolonged exposure.

Way Forward

• More world-scale operations require increased production and competition, which can be achieved by leveraging higher-producing mines.
• The government should reconsider the pricing of coal grades, shifting from grades based on the amount of coal mined to grades based on the amount of coal desired for end use.
• With a competitive coal mining sector in place, the country's ability to raise capital should improve as well.
• Coal mining requires offtake routes for bulk transportation over long distances, as railway projects have been delayed for long periods of time. Alternatives must be considered.
• Risk management necessitates new instruments, contracting, and incentives, as it is the sector's biggest challenge.
• To address the power sector's growing problems, innovative and targeted financing should be introduced.
• Because India's coal has a high ash content, it should be beneficial to reduce the ash content and improve the grade.

Conclusion

For the next century and beyond, Indian coal offers a unique environmentally friendly fuel source to the domestic energy market. India's main energy source will continue to be coal, and the country will shape global demand. According to the NITI report, coal-based utility electricity generation capacity in India is expected to "peak at around 250 GW" by the end of this decade or shortly thereafter.

FAQs

Q1: What is coal, and why is it significant in India?

Q2: How does coal mining impact the environment in India?

Q3: What are the major coal-producing regions in India?

Q4: What measures are being taken to ensure sustainable coal usage in India?

Q5: What role does coal play in India’s energy security?

MCQs

1. What percentage of India’s electricity generation is accounted for by coal?

A) 40%

B) 50%

C) 70%

D) 80%

2. Which of the following states is NOT a major coal-producing state in India?

A) Jharkhand

B) Chhattisgarh

C) Maharashtra

D) Odisha

3. What are the environmental concerns associated with coal mining in India?

A) Water pollution

B) Deforestation

C) Air pollution

D) All of the above

4. Which initiative is being taken to promote sustainable coal usage in India?

A) Coal block allocation

B) Carbon capture and storage

C) Increase in coal imports

D) Abandonment of coal use

5. What is the primary component of coal?

A) Oxygen

B) Nitrogen

C) Hydrogen

D) Carbon

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1. Discuss the significance of coal as an energy resource in India.

Answer: Coal holds immense significance as an energy resource in India, primarily due to its role in electricity generation and industrial processes. Approximately 70% of India's electricity is generated from coal, making it the backbone of the country’s energy infrastructure. The widespread availability of coal deposits across states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha ensures a reliable supply of this resource, contributing to energy security. Additionally, coal is vital for industries such as steel and cement, which are crucial for infrastructure development and economic growth. However, the reliance on coal also raises concerns regarding environmental sustainability, as coal mining and combustion lead to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and other ecological impacts. Therefore, while coal remains a key driver of economic progress, transitioning towards cleaner energy sources and adopting sustainable mining practices is essential for balancing development with environmental conservation.

Q2. Analyze the environmental impacts of coal mining in India.

Answer: Coal mining in India significantly impacts the environment, leading to several adverse effects. One of the primary concerns is deforestation, as mining activities often require clearing large areas of forest, disrupting ecosystems and leading to biodiversity loss. Soil erosion is another critical issue, as the removal of vegetation can destabilize the land, making it more susceptible to erosion and affecting soil fertility. Furthermore, coal mining can contaminate water sources with heavy metals and pollutants, posing risks to aquatic life and human health. The combustion of coal for energy also contributes to air pollution, releasing particulate matter and greenhouse gases, which are major contributors to climate change. These environmental challenges necessitate the implementation of sustainable mining practices and technologies to mitigate the negative impacts of coal extraction and utilization while ensuring energy needs are met.

Q3. Evaluate the future of coal in India’s energy landscape considering global trends.

Answer: The future of coal in India’s energy landscape is shaped by both domestic energy needs and global trends towards cleaner energy sources. While coal remains a critical component of India’s energy mix, supplying about 70% of electricity, there is growing pressure to transition towards renewable energy. Global trends indicate a shift away from fossil fuels due to climate change concerns, leading to investments in solar, wind, and other renewable sources. The Indian government has also set ambitious targets for increasing the share of renewables in its energy mix, aiming for 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity by 2030. Despite this, coal will likely continue to play a vital role in meeting energy demands in the short to medium term, especially given India’s ongoing economic development and increasing energy consumption. To balance these dynamics, India must focus on improving coal efficiency, investing in clean coal technologies, and developing policies that support a gradual transition to a more sustainable energy system while ensuring energy security and economic growth.

Previous Year Questions on  Coal as Energy Resource in India

1. UPSC CSE 2018

Question. "Discuss the role of coal as an energy resource in India." 

Answer: Coal is a fundamental energy resource for India, primarily due to its extensive availability and affordability. It contributes approximately 70% to the country’s electricity generation, making it crucial for energy security and economic development. The significance of coal extends to various industries, including steel and cement, where it serves as an essential input. Major coal-producing states, such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, play a vital role in sustaining the energy needs of a rapidly growing economy. However, the environmental implications of coal mining and consumption are significant. Air pollution, water contamination, and land degradation are pressing concerns that arise from extensive coal mining activities. Furthermore, coal-fired power plants are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, challenging India's commitments to combat climate change. Therefore, while coal remains a cornerstone of India’s energy landscape, there is an urgent need for sustainable practices and a gradual transition towards cleaner energy sources, which will be vital for ensuring long-term ecological balance and energy security.

2. UPSC CSE 2019

Question. "Analyze the challenges and opportunities of using coal as an energy source in India." 

Answer: Using coal as an energy source in India presents a mix of challenges and opportunities. On one hand, coal provides a reliable and cost-effective energy supply, essential for powering industries and supporting economic growth. With significant coal reserves, India can ensure energy security and reduce dependence on imported fuels. The coal sector has also created numerous jobs and contributed to infrastructure development, particularly in coal-rich states. However, the challenges associated with coal usage are considerable. Environmental degradation, including air and water pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, poses a serious threat to sustainable development. Additionally, coal is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, raising concerns about climate change and India’s commitments under international agreements. As global trends shift towards cleaner energy sources, India faces the dual challenge of managing its existing coal resources while transitioning to a more sustainable energy mix. To address these challenges, India must invest in cleaner coal technologies, promote energy efficiency, and enhance the development of renewable energy sources, creating a balanced and resilient energy strategy that can support economic growth while safeguarding the environment.