New Delhi: The Ministry of Coal hosted "Chintan Shivir 2.0" at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and collaboration to shape the coal sector's future. The event was chaired by Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy, and co-chaired by Minister of State Satish Chandra Dubey. Senior officials, including Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt, and CMDs and Directors of coal PSUs participated in the deliberations.
In his keynote address, Reddy underscored the coal sector's role in ensuring India’s energy security and transitioning towards sustainability. He emphasized adopting cleaner technologies like coal gasification, reducing carbon emissions, and aligning mining practices with global sustainability goals. Safety in mining operations and robust mine closure mechanisms were identified as top priorities, alongside fostering community welfare programs to enhance healthcare, education, and livelihoods.
Vikram Dev Dutt stressed the need for innovation to achieve a quantum leap in coal production and streamline evacuation processes to meet the nation's growing energy demands. Discussions highlighted improving coal transportation infrastructure and integrating environmentally conscious practices.
The event featured two panel discussions on the future of coal in India and sustainable coal mining with community involvement. Key themes included achieving the 2 billion-tonne production target, adopting clean technologies, enhancing coal viability, and addressing mine closures with biodiversity restoration.
Reddy felicitated coal PSUs for their performance under Special Campaign 4.0 and lauded capacity-building efforts through the iGOT Karmayogi platform. Chintan Shivir 2.0 concluded with a commitment to a sustainable, inclusive coal-mining framework, positioning the sector as a key contributor to Atmanirbhar Bharat.
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