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Coal to Fuel India's Growth Until 2047, Says Top Official at Energy Week

Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt stated that coal will remain a central pillar of India's energy strategy as the nation works to triple its per capita energy consumption by 2047. He emphasized the need for a realistic, gradual "phase down" rather than a sudden phase-out to ensure affordable and reliable baseload power. U.S. official Kyle Haustveit echoed the global importance of coal for energy security and highlighted potential Indo-US collaboration on clean coal technologies. Coal India's Chairman B. Sairam positioned coal as a critical bridge fuel to support rising energy demand while renewable infrastructure matures.

Key Points: India's Energy Mix to Rely on Coal for Viksit Bharat 2047 Goal

  • Coal central to India's energy security
  • Focus on gradual phase-down, not phase-out
  • Tripling per capita energy consumption a goal
  • Coal as bridge fuel during transition
  • India-US cooperation on clean coal tech
2 min read

Coal to remain key pillar of India's energy mix on road to Viksit Bharat 2047: Top Govt Official

Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt says coal is imperative for India's affordable power and growth, advocating a gradual phase-down, not a sudden phase-out.

"Coal is not going away in a hurry. For India, dependable and affordable power is not a choice but an imperative. - Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt"

New Delhi, Jan 29

Coal will continue to play a central role in India's energy mix as the country works towards tripling its per capita energy consumption on the path to Viksit Bharat 2047, Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt said on Thursday.

Speaking at a leadership panel on the third day of India Energy Week 2026 in Goa, Dutt said India's energy transition must be guided by realism and ground realities.

Addressing the session titled 'Coal's evolving role in a secure energy mix: charting a balanced and pragmatic approach', he stressed that affordable and reliable baseload power remains critical for India's development.

"Coal is not going away in a hurry. For India, dependable and affordable power is not a choice but an imperative," Dutt said, adding that the focus should be on a gradual and calibrated "phase down" of coal rather than a sudden phase-out.

"Coal continues to underpin India's growth needs even as the country expands renewable energy in line with its climate commitments," he noted.

Offering a global perspective, Kyle Haustveit, Assistant Secretary for Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy at the US Department of Energy, said coal remains important for energy security across the world.

He said reliable and affordable energy is essential, and coal provides stability irrespective of weather conditions or market volatility.

Haustveit also highlighted the potential for stronger India-US cooperation in areas such as clean coal technologies, coal gasification, carbon utilisation and the supply of high-quality metallurgical coal.

From an industry standpoint, Coal India Limited Chairman-cum-Managing Director B. Sairam said coal will act as a bridge fuel during India's energy transition.

He pointed out that India's per capita energy consumption is still about one-third of that in developed economies, and as demand rises sharply, coal will provide firm and dispatchable power while renewable energy and storage solutions continue to mature.

He added that increasing domestic coal production would help cut imports and save valuable foreign exchange.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
While I understand the need for energy security, this feels like a missed opportunity to be more aggressive on renewables. The climate crisis is global. I hope the "phase down" is ambitious and not just a delay tactic. More investment in storage tech is key.
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Rohit P
Absolutely correct! Look at the electricity bills in Europe and US after they rushed away from reliable sources. We need affordable power for our factories and homes. 'Viksit Bharat' needs a strong, stable grid first. Increasing domestic production to cut imports is a masterstroke for our economy. 💪
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Priya S
The part about per capita consumption being one-third of developed nations says it all. How can we ask our people to use less when their standard of living needs to improve? A balanced approach is the only way. But we must also protect our forests and air quality where mines and plants operate.
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Michael C
Interesting to see the US official supporting this. The cooperation on clean coal technologies and gasification could be a game-changer. It's about managing the transition smartly, not abandoning a key resource. Reliability is non-negotiable for any growing economy.
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Nisha Z
As someone from a coal-bearing region, I welcome the focus on domestic production. It brings jobs and development. But the government must ensure that the benefits actually reach the local communities and that rehabilitation is done properly. "Bridge fuel" should not leave people behind.

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