February 4, 2019
The objective of the partnership is to foster capacity and innovation in the field of coal mining and clean coal technologies through the already established Joint Coal Working Group
Coal-based power generation capacity in India, which currently stands at 196 GW - 56.6 per cent of total national generation capacity - is expected to reach 330-441 GW by 2040
India is the world’s third largest producer of coal with production reported at 676.5 million tonnes during the financial year 2017-18; It is a major electrification enabler
India and Poland have formalized bilateral agreements in different areas that has raised bilateral trade by 37 per cent to US$2.3 billion between 2014-15 and 2017-18
The Indian Ministry of Coal on February 4 entered into a preliminary agreement with Poland’s Ministry of Energy to expand bilateral cooperation in the coal sector. The objective of the partnership is to foster capacity and innovation in the field of coal mining and clean coal technologies through the already established Joint Coal Working Group. The agreement will also enable joint activity in skill development and field research. The bilateral commitment is critical as coal-based power generation capacity in India, which currently stands at 196 GW – 56.6 per cent of total national generation capacity – is expected to reach 330-441 GW by 2040, a major force in electrification drive.
India is the world’s third largest producer of coal with production reported at 676.5 million tonnes during the financial year 2017-18. The latest agreement will seek to aid trade and investment in the coal sector, to review the activities implemented under the bilateral partnership, as well as to identify other forms of cooperation mutually agreed. Additionally, the joint effort will boost the understanding of coal related thermal energy issues, especially clean coal technologies, and promote exchange of information on policies, programmes and technologies with emphasis on coal exploration and exploitation, research and development, technical cooperation and capacity building.
The agreement comes amid celebrations marking 60 years of diplomatic ties between India and Poland. The nations have formalized agreements in different areas that has raised bilateral trade by 37 per cent to US$2.3 billion between 2014-15 and 2017-18. The coal agreement is anticipated to benefit the nations in technological innovation, providing opportunities to both countries to augment trade and investment in diverse areas of mining and energy. Last year, the Indian Government has approved a plan to open up commercial coal mining sector to private investment. The liberalisation is the most ambitious coal sector reform since the nationalisation of the sector in 1973.