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‘Coal dependency is not a bad thing’

Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, and New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal spoke to Mahim Pratap Singh about the present challenges and future plans pertaining to the energy sector in India.

How will you ensure investment in coal blocks is not jeopardised, with the Supreme Court reserving orders on illegal coal blocks?

I don’t think it’s an insurmountable problem. The best time to say anything on that will be after the final orders of the Supreme Court. Our only desire is there is finality on this issue because the country is yearning for coal. The fate of 218 coal blocks is in a state of uncertainty, which the country can ill-afford…many blocks are ready to start production but cannot do so owing to certain observations of the honourable court. We hope there will be finality in the weeks to come.

Are we over-dependant on coal for our energy needs? Can it be substituted with renewable energy?

In the U.S., in spite of finding shale gas and facing climate change concerns, thermal power continues to contribute about 60 per cent to energy needs, almost the same as India. So coal dependency is not such a bad thing. India is a poor country and we need to keep the cost of power reasonable. We have abundant coal. The need of the hour is to bring down use of diesel generators.

However, renewable energy is very much at the centre of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s energy security vision. We have sorted out the issue of anti-dumping duties amicably with domestic players who withdrew their objections on their own.

We have been able to comfort the domestic players that we will do everything to make them competitive and participate in the solar growth story in a big way.

What are your plans for other renewable sources?

We are looking at up to 8,000-10,000 MW of wind power generation.

Hydel power generation came to a standstill due to the inability of the previous government to resolve conflicts. An example is the Lower Subansiri dam project which has not progressed despite spending Rs. 6,000 crore. It is important for both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh besides having strategic importance.

Mr. Modi has ensured that ministries don’t work in silos, not just at the Centre but with the States also. For instance, the animosity between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over power has been sorted out and I am working to make sure both get a fair deal.

The Committee of Secretaries constituted last month has submitted its report on gas pricing. Will the prices be reduced?

We have presented our views before the committee…also before the new committee…they must take a holistic view (keeping in mind) the imperatives of improving gas supplies and the reality that the common man cannot afford to pay a high price (for essential items). All of this has to be balanced.

Source: The Hindu