Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered a strong endorsement of coal’s ongoing significance in India’s roadmap to ‘Viksit Bharat 2047.’ In a candid assessment, he asserted that fossil fuels, particularly coal, will underpin the country’s energy needs for decades.
Addressing energy stakeholders, PM Modi outlined the realities of India’s development trajectory. With ambitions to become the third-largest economy, reliable and affordable power is non-negotiable. Coal, abundant domestically, shields India from volatile imports and price shocks.
He spotlighted transformative reforms: gasification projects to convert coal into cleaner gases, methanol production from coal, and widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization. These innovations promise to retain coal’s benefits while curbing pollutants.
India’s energy conundrum is stark—renewables grow fast, but storage lags. Coal bridges this gap, ensuring grid stability. PM Modi projected coal meeting 40-50% of power needs through 2040, gradually tapering with tech advancements.
The statement resonates amid elections and economic pressures. It signals policy continuity, boosting investor confidence in coal assets worth billions. Environmentalists may dissent, but PM Modi emphasized India’s per capita emissions remain low, justifying measured progress.
Looking ahead, this framework positions India as a model for equitable decarbonization, harmonizing growth, jobs, and climate action in the quest for a developed nation by 2047.