FutureCoal stated on Monday that the future of coal in India appears promising due to available technologies that enable the extraction, utilization, and combustion of the dry fuel in a more sustainable manner. Sunil Chaturvedi, a board member of FutureCoal, emphasized that despite coal being a significant contributor to climate change and global greenhouse gas emissions, advanced technologies offer opportunities for sustainable extraction, usage, and combustion of coal, potentially reducing CO2 emissions by up to 99% through post-combustion treatment.

The FutreCoal Global Alliance, representing the entire coal value chain, aims to increase awareness regarding the role of fossil fuels in various sectors. Chaturvedi highlighted that about 70% of electricity generation in India relies on coal. Over the last 15 years, India has transitioned to utilizing supercritical and ultrasupercritical technologies, enhancing the efficiency of coal combustion and reducing pollution.

Chaturvedi underscored that although significant progress has been made in combusting coal more efficiently, there's an ongoing evolution in coal-related technologies. He noted that despite an anticipated decline in the share of thermal power to 30-35% by 2030, India will still require a considerable 1.5 billion tonnes of coal. Hence, there's an imperative for increased coal production in India.

Michelle Manook, the Chief Executive of FutureCoal, echoed optimism about the prospects of coal in India. She emphasized the vast interconnectedness and significant financial contribution of the coal value chain across sectors such as power, steel, cement, aluminum, chemicals, and renewable infrastructure, which collectively amounts to hundreds of billions.

The statements by the FutureCoal representatives reflect a positive outlook on the role of coal in India, underscored by technological advancements and the crucial role coal plays across various industries.