“Government Stands Committed to Vibrant Power Sector with Consiousness of Environment”- Shri Piyush Goyal

“Government Stands Committed to Vibrant Power Sector with Consiousness of Environment”- Shri Piyush Goyal

Renewables have Dimensions of Energy Security 

Shri Piyush Goyal Union Minister of State ( IC) for Coal, Power and New and Renewable Energy, said that Central government stands committed for better and vibrant power sector but will never compromise with environment for the same. Shri Goyal was speaking at the panel discussion on “Coal, Power, Renewable Energy and Carbon” organised by Brooklyn India here today. 

Shri Goyal said that coal will continue to be the mainstay of power in the country but the pollution level can significantly be kept low with innovative technologies.

Talking about the recent measures taken by the government, Shri Goyal told that Coal India Limited will produce one billion tonnes of coal by 2019-20. The government is committed to set up washeries on the massive scale to wash 250 mt of coal in next three years.

Shri Piyush Goyal said that the Centre has initiated third party sampling to check the grade quality of coal and not a single complaint has been registered from any state or power plant in last one year. Taking a step ahead, the Coal Ministry will ask coal controller to reassess the grades of all coal mines, Shri Goyal added.

Shri Goyal stated that the Coal Ministry is framing a policy to liberalise coal linkages within intra companies so that they can swap coal linkages within same companies which will help bring down cost of power. By 2030, India will be a country of largely modern and efficient coal based plants, Shri Goyal added. Reassessment of coal grades more accurately and permission of intra companies linkages will help the Nation to save approximately Rs 20,000 Crore in power bills.

The Minister added that energy efficiency will have a bigger role to play in pollution control initiative of the government. Centre’s focus on LEDs will be followed with major thrust on Air Conditioner both in terms of consumption and reduction of CFC gasses in the environment.

Shri Piyush Goyal implied that the huge thrust of renewables has certainly given a push to the contribution of renewables in the holistic power mix.

Shri Goyal informed that contracts worth Rs 38,000 crore has been sanctioned through competitive bidding for creating green corridors which will strengthen grid system in renewable sector. He further said that India is gradually moving away from the subsidy culture towards providing better facilities for working environment.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is planning for aggressively bidding transmission lines. In next five years, $ 50 billion foreign investment is expected. The Minister concluded his address by saying that renewables have dimensions to provide energy security for the country.