Secretary (Coal), Government of India Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, and Coal India Chairman, Shri B. Sairam, along with Mr. Kyle Haustveit, Assistant Secretary for Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy, US Department of Energy, participated in a panel discussion on “Coal’s evolving role in a secure energy mix: charting a balanced and pragmatic approach” at India Energy Week 2026 in Goa.
Shri Dutt underscored that India is the world’s second-largest producer and consumer of coal and the fifth-largest in reserves, with over 400 billion tonnes. Coal accounts for nearly 55% of India’s energy mix and about 72% of power generation, and will remain critical at least till the middle of the next decade. He highlighted that three million direct and indirect livelihood is dependent on coal in the country.
Shri Dutt also emphasised to align environmental goals with ground realities, while advancing clean coal technologies, coal gasification, emission reduction including carbon capture, and scientific, sustainable mine closure in line with India’s net-zero ambitions.
Shri Sairam highlighted Coal India’s pivotal role in meeting the Nation’s energy needs, noting that it is the world’s largest coal-producing company, contributing about three-fourths of India’s total coal output. He underlined coal’s abundance, reliability and affordability amid rising electricity demand, and pointed out that India continues to import over 240 million tonnes of coal annually, including around 185 million tonnes of thermal coal. Enhancing domestic coal production, he said offers significant potential for foreign exchange savings.
He described coal as both a transition challenge and an enabler, given that 42 districts across eight states depend heavily on the sector. Stressing that energy transition is about integration rather than substitution, he said renewables will drive decarbonisation, while coal will continue to provide firm and dispatchable power to ensure stability.
He also outlined Coal India’s initiatives to diversify coal use, beyond thermal applications, optimise utilisation of every particle of coal for public benefit, and explore collaborations to reduce ash content and improve coal quality.
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