India’s Coal Transition Lessons: The whole world right now is shifting towards clean and renewable energy. India, as the fifth largest economy in the world, is no exception. The rate of generating renewable energy is steadily rising each year, with 21 per cent of electricity generation in 2023. Our nation has targeted to produce 500 GW of renewable energy installed capacity by 2030. At the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, Glasgow, several countries from every corner of the world, have taken a monumental decision to reduce their dependence on coal power.

The ultimate goal is to completely stay away from the non-renewable energy source. But how can this transition take place in a country that is so much dependent on fossil power? Matter of fact, the IEA or International Energy Agency has predicted that our country’s electricity demand will overtake China by 2026, and the present Coal power will only be able to fulfil 68 per cent of that demand by 2026.

Right now, India is the second largest coal producer in the world and has a total of 344.02 billion tonnes of coal reserves. Coal is a crucial source measurably, 72% of total electricity generation in India. If said in broad terms, this brownish-black sedimentary rock has a major significance in the nation’s development. So, before hastily jumping for clean energy, to avoid heavy scarcity, India has to take calculated and long-term policies. We have experienced how an abrupt decision, although with good intentions but not far-sighted, has caused so much chaos and damage. We can learn from Britain’s drastic decisions in the 1980s that ultimately caused the collapse of the coal mining industry and the damage it caused to the habitants of coal mining regions who still have not revived.

During the 1980s, Britain’s National Coal Board under the then prime minister Margarita Thatcher decided to shut down 20 unprofitable coal pits. If doing so, this act was going to snatch jobs of 20000 labourers who were at that time working in those coal mines. To protest this, three-fourths of 1,87,000 miners declared rebellion against the government in 1984. Their slogan for the movement was, “Close a Pit, kill a community.”  Prime Minister Thatcher ignored the plea and ensured coal mining continued smoothly. Her ruthless decisions earned her the title ‘Iron Lady’; the failed strike devastated the coal mining industry.

The British government later closed most coal mines, ending jobs for 200,000 miners and reducing the industry workforce by 90%. The UK coal mining industry declined from the 1950s, but the 1984 miners’ strike further harmed it.

Mining towns and villages remain underdeveloped due to mines closing abruptly without alternative income sources. The next generation of those miners are still facing the scorching blow of unemployment. BBC poll: 57% in closed coalfields lack local jobs.

India must learn from this tragedy to guide its use of renewable energy more responsibly and with foresight. The government aims to cut coal imports to 2% by 2025 through measured steps. Prime Minister Modi has set a target to make India a Net-Zero emission country by 2070. The change should be slow and that will not put any sector of society in muddle. Let’s hope for a better future that will ensure a smile on every person’s face amid a lush, ethereal nature.

These are India’s Coal Transition Lessons, continue reading – UK-India Free Trade Talks Resume