INDIA’S ENERGY SECURITY: COAL SECTOR

A final project submitted in partial fulfilment of the course

ECONOMICS-II, 4th SEMESTER during the Academic Year 2017-2018

SUBMITTED BY:
Khushbu Kumari
Roll No. - 1533

B.A LL.B

SUBMITTED TO:
Dr. PETER F. LADIS
FACULTY OF ECONOMICS-II

MARCH, 2018
CHANAKYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, NAYAYA NAGAR,

MEETHAPUR, PATNA-800001

DECLARATION BY THE CANDIDATE

 I hereby declare that the work reported in the B.A. LL.B (Hons.) Project Report entitled
“Rising Cyber Dependency” submitted at Chanakya National Law University,
Patna is an authentic record of my work carried out under the supervision of Dr. Shivani
Mohan . I have not submitted this work elsewhere for any other degree or diploma. I am
fully responsible for the contents of my Project Report.

(Signature of the Candidate)

KHUSHBU KUMARI
Chanakya National Law University, Patna
05/10/2017

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
 “IF YOU WANT TO WALK FAST GO ALONE
IF YOU WANT TO WALK FAR GO TOGETHER”

A project is a joint endeavour which is to be accomplished with utmost compassion, diligence

and with support of all. Gratitude is a noble response of one’s soul to kindness or help
generously rendered by another and its acknowledgement is the duty and joyance. I am
overwhelmed in all humbleness and gratefulness to acknowledge from the bottom of my
heart to all those who have helped me to put these ideas, well above the level of simplicity
and into something concrete effectively and moreover on time.
This project would not have been completed without combined effort of my revered
Economics teacher Dr. SHIVANI MOHAN whose support and guidance was the driving
force to successfully complete this project. I express my heartfelt gratitude to her. Thanks are
also due to my parents, family, siblings, my dear friends and all those who helped me in this
project in any way. Last but not the least; I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our
Economics teacher for providing us with such a golden opportunity to showcase our talents.
It was truly an endeavour which enabled me to embark on a journey which redefined my
intelligentsia, induced my mind to discover the various events and provisions which led to the
development of law in India.
Moreover, thanks to all those who helped me in any way be it words, presence?
Encouragement or blessings...

- Khushbu Kumari
- 3rd Semester
- BA LL.B
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgement …………………………………………………………………………….3

Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………...... 4

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………5

Aims and Objectives…………………………………………………………………………6

Hypothesis……………………………………………………………………………………..6

Research Methodology………………………………………………………………………..6

Limitations…………………………………………………………………………………….7

1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..……5

2. Increasing Crime Through Cyber

Dependencies……………………………….…………10

3. Cyber Dependency Increases Cost Of Production……………………………..………11

4. Cyber Dependency Adversely affected Indian Economy………………………….……12

5. Effect Of Cyber Crime Indian Economy…………………………………………..……….15

6. Conclusion , Criticism And Suggestion……………………………………………..……..17

Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………18
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgement …………………………………………………………………………….3

Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………...... 4

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………5

Aims and

Objectives……………………………………………………………………………6

Hypothesis……………………………………………………………………………………..6

Research Methodology………………………………………………………………………..6

Limitations…………………………………………………………………………………….7

7. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..……5

8. Increasing Crime Through Cyber

Dependencies……………………………….…………10

9. Cyber Dependency Increases Cost Of

Production………………………………..………11

10. Cyber Dependency Adversely affected Indian Economy………………………….……12

11. Effect Of Cyber Crime Indian Economy…………………………………………..……….15

12. Conclusion , Criticism And Suggestion……………………………………………..……..17

Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………18
 INTRODUCTION

Energy security in India revolves around coal sector, which has dominant use in three core
sectors i.e. power, steel, cement. Coal Industry itself too is part of core sector. Apart from this
there is inconsistent demand from small scale industry involved in brick manufacturing or
ceramics. There is increased impetus on moving away from coal based technologies to
cleaner and efficient technologies, but still demand of coal will continue to rise almost in
proportion to industrial growth in India. This is because base infrastructure in all core sectors
is designed for coal consumption and still India’s supply of power and steel doesn’t match the
demand. Even new capacity additions in these sector using clean energies will fall short of
incremental demand and again usage of coal in capacity addition will be indispensable. India
is well placed to fulfil this demand given there is adequate transparent government policy and
reforms in state monopolized sector.1

India is not well endowed with energy resources in comparison with its large population.
While it supports 17% of the world’s population, it only has 0.6%, 0.4% and 7% of the
world’s oil, gas and coal reserves, respectively. This has led to large import dependence to
meet its demand for energy, which has been sticky at nearly 35% of its annual primary
commercial energy demand over the last several decades. This has led to intensive efforts to
exploit India’s coal reserves and explore oil and gas. However, due to a number of structural
issues, both exploitation and exploration of energy minerals have been poor so far. India’s
renewable energy potential is vast and holds a great promise. It is evident that an integrated
approach towards developing domestic energy resources, and giving special attention to the
ones in which India may have higher potentials, has been engaging the attention of India’s
economic planners.

On the other hand, there is a large scope for effecting energy efficiency in the demand sectors
as well. Electrification of this demand could also ease India’s import dependence, as there
would be a shift from liquid fuels to coal and renewable energy. It is noteworthy that India’s
import dependence for liquid fuel (petroleum) is nearly 78%. The shift to electricity could be
particularly do-able if India’s renewal energy potential could be tapped, and a major demand
shift could be made in the cooking and transport sectors, which are presently heavily

1
http://www.insightsonindia.com/2014/10/25/indias-energy-security-coal-sector/
dependent on petroleum products. It has made good progress in the former on many fronts
such as adopting efficiency in white goods, but needs to usher in the same in industry,
transport, cooking and in buildings.

India is the world’s fifth largest energy consumer, accounting for 4.1% of the global energy
consumption. Maharashtra is the leading state in electricity generation. The current per capita
consumption of energy in India is 0.5 toe against the global average of 1.9 toe, indicating a
high potential for growth in this sector. Of the total electricity consumed in the country,
approximately 80% is produced from coal. More, streamlined classification is on basis of
carbon content and stage of formation. Coal is formed by fossils of plants, trees, bushes etc.
which got deposited in shallow basins millions of year ago. Later decomposition by bacteria
converts it into peat, which is generally unviable to mine. After this bio- chemical action
ceases and geo chemical action becomes dominant. It results in gradual development of
Lignite, Bituminous and Anthracite coal. Peat is Impure, has very low carbon content (in turn
calorific value) of about 40%. Lignite, bituminous, anthracite coal has carbon content of 40-
60%, 60-80% and 80-90% respectively.
Bituminous coal has special significance because it contains Bitumen which on heating in
absence of oxygen is converted into coking coal. This removes volatile material in the coal
and is further heated to get Coke, which is used in blast furnaces to extract iron from iron ore.
This type of Coking coal is what India lacks, as 88 % of reserves are of Non Coking type and
rest 12 % have high Ash content. Indian Coking Coal is cheap and of poor quality and
imported Coking coal is expensive and good quality. Steel industry blends both to secure a
moderate cost and quality.2

2
http://www.insightsonindia.com/2014/10/25/indias-energy-security-coal-sector/
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1. To study about India’s Energy Security.

2. To study about India’s Coal Sector.

HYPOTHESIS
The researcher presumes that :

1. Coal sector is the biggest source of power supply as compare to other resources in
India.
2. Abundance of Coal in India but no proper utilisation.
3.

SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

Researcher has used purposive and convenient method of sampling due to paucity of time and
various limitations of research.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The researcher has adopted doctrinal method of research only.

SOURCES OF DATA

SECONDARY SOURCES

 Books
 Newspaper
 Journals
 Magazines

STYLE OF WRITING

The researcher has used both descriptive and analytical styles of writing.

MODE OF CITATION

The researcher has used a uniform mode of citation throughout this paper.
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Though the researcher has tried her level best not to leave any stone unturned in doing this
project work to highlight various aspects relating to the topic, but the topic is so dynamic
field of law ,the researcher has sight with some of unavoidable limitations. The limitations
encountered by the researcher were the paucity of time.
BLACK DIAMOND: LIMITED RESOURCE OF ENERGY IN INDIA

Coal is the most abundant form of fossil fuel available on earth. They were formed by the
decay of old plants and animals several centuries ago. coal is mostly found below the earth
and is major source of fuel for electricity generation as of today. Most power stations on earth
require huge reserves of coal to produce electricity continuously without break. When coal is
burnt, it produces heat that is used to convert the water into stream.

The steam is then used to move the turbines which in turns activate generators which
produces electricity. Coal contains excessive amount of carbon. When it is burnt to produce
power, it mixes up with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is one the gas
responsible for global warming. The use of coal and other fossil fuels have only increased
since they were discovered. Their excessive extraction and use has resulted in degradation of
environment and ecological imbalance. Though coal is still available in big quantity on this
earth but it is predicted that it won’t last for more than 40-50 years if switch is not made to
green or clean energy.3

There are different types of coal such as peat, lignite, sub-bituminous and bituminous. The
first kind of coal is peat which is merely a mass of dead and decomposing plant matter. Peat
has been used as fuel in the past, as an alternative to wood. Next, the peat becomes lignite, a
brownish rock that contains recognizable plant matter and has a relatively low calorific value.
Lignite is basically the halfway point from peat to coal. The next phase is sub-bituminous
which is a shade of dull black with very little visible plant matter. This type of coal has a less
than ideal calorific value. Bituminous coal is the best quality of coal. It. is jet black, very
dense and brittle. This type of coal has high calorific value.4

India has limited coal reserves, plus, availability of domestic coal is a challenge on account of
various bottlenecks such as capacity expansion, coal block allocation, land acquisition,
environmental and forest clearances, etc. Transportation of coal is a big concern in itself.
Ensuring smooth supply of coal requires efficient supply chain management process. As a
remedy to the shortage of fuel, the government of India has planned for the deregulation of
the coal sector for competitive resource allocation. But even though If these commodities are
3
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/nonrenewableenergysources.php
4
http://www.nios.ac.in/media/documents/secscicour/English/Chapter-12.pdf
imported from the world markets, the cost production will go up leading to the rise in the cost
of production of products in other sectors. The higher cost of production will lead to
inflation.5

USES OF COAL IN DIFFERENT SECTORS

Electricity Production

Modern life is unimaginable without electricity. It lights houses, buildings, streets, provides
domestic and industrial heat, and powers most equipment used in homes, offices and
machinery in factories. Improving access to electricity worldwide is critical to alleviating
poverty. Coal plays a vital role in electricity generation worldwide. Coal-fired power plants
currently fuel 37% of global electricity and, in some countries, coal fuels a higher percentage
of electricity.6

Steel sector

Coal is an essential input in the production of steel. In 2011, the world crude steel production
reached 1,518 MT, reflecting a growth of 6.2% over 2010. The per capita finished steel
consumption in 2011 is estimated at 215 kg for world and 460 kg for China, while that for
India it is estimated currently at 55 kg (provisional). This clearly indicates scope for
increasing the per capita steel consumption, a factor which correlates to the coking coal
availability and production within the country. India has very limited reserves of coking coal
which is a key raw material for the production of steel. Coking coal accounts for only 15% of
the country’s overall proven coal reserves. As per the report of the Working Group of Coal
and Lignite for the 12th Five Year Plan, the steel production by 2016-17 is projected to be
105 MT. The corresponding requirement of coking coal for this quantity of steel is worked
out at 67.2 MT in 2016-17.

Cement sector

India is the second largest producer of cement in the world. Large amount of energy is required during
the production of cement and coal is used as an energy source. During the process, coal is usually

5
http://www.imcnet.org/cms/public/content/ertf_thoughtpaper/2.%20Power%20sector%20in%20India.pdf
6
https://www.worldcoal.org/coal/uses-coal/coal-electricity
burnt in the form of powder. Around 450g of coal is consumed to produce 900g of cement. The
cement industry is the third largest consumer of coal in the country. Due to the high cost and
inadequate availability of oil and gas, coal is used as the main fuel in the industry. However, in the
last few years due to rapid adoption of the dry process, the specific consumption of coal for producing
cement has reduced significantly . It has also improved efficiency in cement kilns and increased the
use of fly ash (produced in power plants) and granulated slag (produced in blast furnaces of steel
plants) in the production of cement (Coal Vision, 2025).

ROLE OF COAL IN INDIAN ECONOMY

Around 69% of India's power generation is coal based .Even under a least coal usage scenario, coal
will supply more than 40% of the primary commercial energy in 2031-32 .It is the most abundantly
domestically available fossil fuel, while about 80% of oil has to be imported .A total of 293.50 billion
tons (BT) of geological resources of coal has been estimated in the country (8% of the global coal
reserve)

Coal is viewed as a key element in increasing energy access in India, as over a quarter of the country
does not have access to electricity . Coal will remain the cheapest source of electricity for at least
another two decades .CAGR for Indian coal production has been estimated at 5%-6% in medium term

Demand supply gap is 200 MT, India imported 168 MT of coal (2012-13) .Demand supply gap for
coking coal is 34 MT .India is the 2nd largest producer of cement in the world, coal shortage affects
cement industry . Cost of imported coal is twice as compared to domestic coal • Coal import is 3rd
largest consumer of foreign exchange (US$ 22 billion in 2012-13, 20% increase in 2013-14)
 COAL SECTOR AND GOVERNMENT POLICIES

Coal is the primary energy resource of India. India has the third largest coal reserve after the United
States and China. By 2025 India is likely to become the second largest consumer of coal . Coal sector
remains the least efficient of all the energy sectors. Demand of coal is sure to rise with increasing
demand of electricity. Uncertainty over coal production expansion has led to low levels of
investment in the power sector. High environmental and social costs are always associated with high
dependence on coal. India can be brought on to a more dependable and cleaner energy pathway by
sustainable development of the coal sector.

With an aim to ensure co-ordinated and efficient utilization of coal with the growing demands of the
country, India’s private coal mining companies were nationalized under the Coal Mines Act 1973.
Steel/ Iron companies and power industries were allowed to produce coal from the designated mines
for their captive consumption through the amendment of the Act in the year 1976. To encourage
foreign and private investment in India’s mineral sector, the National Mineral Policy was formed in
the year 1993. The Ministry of Coal and Mines was authorized to govern the pricing and
dissemination of coal along with subsidy allocation according to the Colliery Control Order of 1945.
The Ministry required the coal producers to distribute their products through SEBs due to the absence
of direct relations between the mining firms and purchasers. The Coal Linkage Policy in the year 2000
derestricted prices for all coal qualities but dispersal persisted under the jurisdiction of the
government.7

The National Coal Distribution Policy (NCDP) was introduced in order to assist supply of guaranteed
quantities of coal to core and non-core consumers . Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) in place of the
linkage system was the key feature of this policy.

Reform of the coal sector is extremely crucial at this juncture as coal is the primary energy resource of
India. Deteriorating domestic production and arrangement for coal handling are the serious issues in
India’s energy supply. Private firms should be given access to engage themselves in commercial coal
mining, technical enhancement and efficient management of coal sector in order to make India energy
secure.

7
file:///C:/Users/DELL/Downloads/IndiasEnergySecurityChallengesPoliciesandOpportunities_Paper.pdf
RIGOURS USE OF COAL AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Coal is one of the cheapest and most important sources of energy, responsible for 41% of
electricity production worldwide. The Pros of Coal are most evident in Electricity Generation
where it continues to grow at a sharp pace in countries like India and China. In many
important countries like India, China, Germany, USA, Coal is the primary source of
electricity and energy. Other smaller countries also heavily rely on coal for example Poland
94% , South Africa 92%, China for 77% and Australia for 76% of Electricity. Coal has
played this a pivotal role in the development of mankind and his progress into the Industrial
Age. Coal is an essential raw material and fuel for important global industries like Cement
and Steel. Different qualities of Coal are used for different purposes. For example coking coal
with higher carbon percentage is used in Steel Production while Thermal Coal is used in
Production of Electricity. It was during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th
centuries that demand for coal surged. Coal is responsible for almost a quarter of the global
energy production,41% of the Electricity Production and more than 60% for Steel Making.
Here is a list of the Major Uses of Coal

1. Electricity Production – Coal is mainly used as Fuel to generate Electricity through

combustion. Approximately 6.8 Billion Tons of Coal was consumed and that is expected
to keep on increasing at around 1.5-2% per year in the next 20 years.Steam coal, also
known as thermal coal, is used in power stations to generate electricity.

2. Steel Production – Steel Industry is the second largest user of Coal after the Electricity
Industry. More than 600 million tons of Coal were used to produce more than 1 Billion
Tons of Steel. Coal is an essential raw material along with iron in the production of steel
which is one of the useful metal products used by man today. Coking Coal is a solid
carbonaceous residue derived from low-ash, low-sulphur bituminous coal.

3. Cement Industry – Coal is used as an energy source in the cement industry. Large
amounts of energy are required to produce cement. Kilns usually burn coal in the form of
powder and consume around 450g of coal for about 900g of cement produced. By-
products generated from burning coal in coal-fired power plants such as fly ash, bottom
 ash, boiler slag and flue gas desulphurisation gypsum are also used in Concrete Production
(source WCA). Fly ash can be used to replace cement in concrete

4. Paper Industry and Aluminium Industry – Both these industries require large amounts
of Fuel and Energy. Coal being the cheapest energy resource forms an essential input to
these industries. The price and availability of Coal is an important factor in the growth of
these industries

5. Chemicals and Pharma Industry – Several chemical products can be produced from the
by-products of coal. Refined coal tar is used in the manufacture of chemicals, such as
creosote oil, naphthalene, phenol, and benzene.

6. Coal Gas and Coal Liquid as Transportation Fuel – Current Transportation Industry
does not make much use of Coal as Fuel. However the increasing cost of Oil has made it
economical to consider converting Coal into Gas and Liquid which can be used to power
vehicles, ships etc.
Coal is also used in thousands of other applications and products like soap, fibre making,
rayon, cooking fuel etc.8

8
http://www.greenworldinvestor.com/2011/04/09/uses-of-coal-electricitysteel-and-cement-biggest-users-of-
coal/
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF COAL SECTOR IN INDIA

Achieving energy security which is needed not only for higher GDP growth but also for
assuring inclusive growth to all her citizens and ensuring environmental security. Coal meets
not only commercial energy needs but also ensures lesser dependency on nearby forest areas
for collection of firewood. Coal mining and coal consumption are environment unfriendly.
There are negative social impacts as well, such as displacement and lost livelihoods . Coal
usage in India also has impacts beyond India. In 2011, though India’s annual per-capita CO2
emissions at 1.6 tons was considerably lower than the global average of 4.9 tons, India was
the world’s third largest emitter of CO2 with 1,970 million tons. Of this, coal usage
contributed about 970 million tons, or about 49.24% of India CO2 emissions .India needs
coal but coal mining and subsequent usages of coal has adverse impact on climate which may
risk various forest types

FUGITIVE METHANE EMISSION IN COAL MINING

Fugitive emissions are unintended emissions, including both carbon dioxide and methane that arise
during the production, processing, transportation, storage and distribution of coal . Previously trapped
methane and carbon dioxide gases are released into the atmosphere as coal seams are mined. The level
of fugitive emissions from coal mines varies from mine to mine . Due to low concentration of
methane gas, mitigation is currently a costly option for the coal mining industry9

Air Pollution:

In India, air pollution due to coal fires is also a severe problem. The major pollutants are
oxides of N and S, one coal dust, suspended particulate matter, reparable particulate matter,
poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzene soluble matter. coal fires volatilize a large
number of potentially harmful heavy metals like arsenic, selenium, mercury, lead, sulphur
and fluorine. These could condense on dust particles and get inhaled or ingested by the
people or they could gain entry to local water bodies and thus enter food chain causing severe
diseases. There have been documented reports of stroke, pulmonary heart disease and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease due to air pollution. Heavy metals along with PAHs can cause a
number of ill effects on health like cancer, neurotoxicity, cardio toxicity, mono toxicity, arsenics,
fluoridise, CO poisoning etc.10

9
http://www.teriuniversity.ac.in/mct/pdf/new/environment/IGNFA.pdf
10
http://inpressco.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Paper653437-3440.pdf
OTHER RESOURECS OF ENERGY IN INDIA

Nuclear: Because India’s coal production at the current level is sustainable for only a few more
decades, viable alternatives must be developed and brought to the market. Nuclear power is a low
carbon energy source. That means that the pollution problems stemming from generation are minimal;
instead, its environmental costs show up at the back end of the production chain in the storage of
nuclear waste, a testy political issue.

Sun : A resource with greater potential in the short term is solar energy. India is endowed with
abundant sunlight and solar radiation. Solar radiation is most concentrated in the north and west, in
Rajasthan and Gujarat. The potential amount of energy to be reaped is staggering—an estimated
13,000 MW based on existing infrastructure alone.

Wind: India also has a sizable home-grown wind industry, with a total installed capacity of 5,340
MW and seven manufacturers of wind turbines. India recently overtook Denmark to become the
fourth-largest wind energy market in the world. Wind energy is strongest on the coasts, particularly in
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, as well as in landlocked Rajasthan. The low cost and
readiness of the wind industry in India make it an attractive source for short-term growth.

Natural Gas: Natural gas produces less carbon dioxide and pollutants than other fossil fuels. India’s
use of natural gas is growing faster than its use of other fossil fuels, at an average of almost 10 percent
per year over the past six years. India imports small amounts of natural gas, which make up 8 percent
of its commercial energy usage. To meet its natural gas demand, India primarily uses its own
domestic supply off its western coast.

India recently found a gas field deep in the Krishna-Godavari basin, with reserves of between 10 and
20 tcf (trillion cubic feet). These reserves would be 40 times larger than those in the Bombay High
field and double the entire annual gas production of India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
(ONGC). Plans for the field’s development are still in their initial stages while companies wait for the
government’s approval. In the medium term, expanding the use of natural gas is a good solution to
coal usage .11

11
https://csis-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/publication/sam_132.pdf
 COAL SECTOR AND SUSTAINALBE DEVELOPMENT

India‘s energy and economic development has a cause and effect relationship. With India being a
growing economy, there is external resistance for sacrificing economic growth for the sake of
protecting environment in the future. But India needs to keep up the pace of economic growth to
ensure the good of its masses.12

India needs economic growth and development to free itself from the evil clutches of poverty and
hunger. To ensure the desired rate of growth of the economy it also needs adequate energy either
indigenously or by means of import. This entails that in order to maintain the required economic
growth India would have to exploit the natural resources in the form of coal, hydro, gas nuclear, and
wind. But the challenge is how it can harness the energy resources so as to ensure its energy needs
and at the same time make it sustainable for its future generations.

, India has to depend largely upon coal. Coal today accounts for 50% of India’s commercial energy
consumption and around 78% of the domestic coal production is dedicated to power generation. Coal
shall remain the most dominant energy source till 2031-32 and possibly beyond. Coal for instance,
will dominate India’s energy basket in terms of catering to its present and future needs considering the
volatility of crude oil both in terms of price and supply disruptions.

Nuclear energy offers India powerful means for long term security. It needs to develop its thorium
cycle for nuclear power. India and USA recently have signed a historic nuclear deal. This will help
India in removing the hurdles that it faced in procuring nuclear fuel and technology in the future. This
is a win-win from India’s perspective as this will enable India to build more nuclear plants to meet its
future energy needs. This will also enable India to reduce its dependence on foreign oil and gas.

India needs to establish energy markets so as to optimally utilize indigenous resources and externally
trade energy sources to meet the demand at affordable prices with environmental responsibility. The
restructuring of the energy sector is urgent in the near future. Further the sustainability of the natural
resource base can be ensured by recognizing the role of all stakeholders, and by strengthening
governance for Sustainable Development at the local and national levels. India further needs to
strengthen its health care systems so as to avoid environment related health risks.13

12
http://indiagovernance.gov.in/files/energy-sustainable-development.pdf
13
http://indiagovernance.gov.in/files/energy-sustainable-development.pdf
 CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS

Coal is one of the cheapest and most important sources of energy, responsible for 41% of
electricity production worldwide. Energy security in India revolves around coal sector, which
has dominant use in three core sectors i.e. power, steel, cement. India is the world’s fifth
largest energy consumer, accounting for 4.1% of the global energy consumption. Coal is the
most abundant form of fossil fuel available on earth. They were formed by the decay of old
plants and animals several centuries ago. coal is mostly found below the earth and is major
source of fuel for electricity generation as of today. Coal plays a vital role in electricity
generation worldwide. Coal-fired power plants currently fuel 37% of global electricity and, in
some countries, coal fuels a higher percentage of electricity. India is the second largest
producer of cement in the world. Large amount of energy is required during the production of
cement and coal is used as an energy source. Around 69% of India's power generation is coal
based .Even under a least coal usage scenario, coal will supply more than 40% of the primary
commercial energy in 2031-32 .
BIBLIOGRAPHY