Coal: phase down or phase out

Book excerpt: Coal has been in the news in the last few months for various reasons, the main ones being the shortfall in its supply and its rising prices. Yet, the more pressing need today is switch to cleaner alternatives to save the planet from the adverse effects of climate change, which is exacerbated by carbon dioxide emitted from burning coal. Coal: phase down or phase out brings together salient facts and figures about coal in India and the world to give the reader an overview of the trends in reserves, production, prices, and utilization of coal. More than that, the book highlights the major problems – particularly those related to the environment – that confront the coal sector and not only traces the evolution of relevant policies in India from the nationalization of the sector and the re-entry of the private sector but also explains the forces that shaped those policies. The book attempts to meet the objectives of the ’Concerned Citizen’ series by putting across these different facets of the coal industry simply, clearly, and concisely. Where necessary, some technical terms and concepts are explained so that a lay person can understand them easily. Coal is a major energy source in India today—which is why it is important for the citizens to understand the sector and to learn how the problems associated with India’s heavy dependence on coal can be tacked. It is hoped that this book will help to meet these objectives. Contents: Foreword by Pratyush Sinha A perspective on coal industry by Partha S Bhattacharyya Preface What is coal? How to measure coal quality and quantity? Uses of coal: electricity generation, cooking, etc. Environmental issues in mining coal: impact on forests, air and water Safety issues in coal mining Environmental issues related to the use of coal Mitigating the environmental impact of coal Social impacts of coal mining Using coal at pit head or at load centres: transport of coal and electricity Coal mining in India Legal framework Regulation Industry structure and trends in production and imports Coal price: trends and estimates Major problems faced by the coal sector in India Increasing the use of domestic reserves Commercial mining of coal Pricing, royalty, and revenue sharing Reducing dependence on imports Coal washing and utilizing fly ash Global trends Trends in production Patterns in trade and recent changes Impact of measures against climate change Trends in coal price Bibliography