Coal to remain key energy source; depend less on imports: Anil Swarup

New Delhi: Coal will continue to be the primary source of energy in India till the time there is a viable environment-friendly alternative, a top official said while pitching for mining domestic coal instead of depending on imported fossil fuel.

The comments come amid rising concerns over increasing pollution in major cities in India. "Till the time we find a viable alternative, coal will continue to be the primary source of energy in this country," Coal Secretary Anil Swarup told PTI.

He said although efforts are being made for developing non-conventional sources energy, coal will continue to play a dominant role for some time and "in that sense coal production will have to be enhanced".

The country, he said, is extremely concerned about the environmental issues and it is in that context a lot of efforts are being made to ensure or to look for alternative sources of energy.

Asserting that last year the country imported 210 million tonnes (MT) of fossil fuel; he said "if we don't produce coal within India we will have to import it". "Instead of importing I would rather believe that environmentally it is friendly to mine coal in India than import coal from elsewhere," he said.

The government is eying 1.5 billion tonnes of coal production by 2020. Of this, Coal India, which accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic coal production, is eying an output of one billion tonnes.

In a tweet today the Swarup said: "April-Nov '15 coal production by CIL (Coal India Ltd) and SCCL grows by a record 10.23 per cent over corresponding period in 14-15. Production this year at 358.9 MT (million tonnes)."

In another tweet, he said: "Coal stock at power plants increases to 28.25 MT (average 21 days) against 11.46 MT(average 8 days) last year.

"A landmark climate change deal was clinched in Paris a few days back. The legally-binding pact seeks to limit global warming to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius.

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