India and the true cost of coal | FT Film

Coal powers three-quarters of the grid

Approximately 70-75% of India's electricity comes from coal, with the GRA mine alone—the world's second largest—producing 60 million tons annually to supply 17-20 thermal power plants across seven states.

20 million livelihoods depend on coal

Beyond direct employment at Coal India, roughly 20 million people—from truck drivers to tea stall owners—depend on the coal ecosystem for daily income, making abrupt phase-out economically catastrophic.

Abundant reserves ensure long-term availability

India holds the world's fifth-largest coal reserves, with enough supply to last 100-150 years, creating a persistent economic incentive to utilize domestic resources rather than import expensive alternatives like natural gas.

1.5 million deaths annually from air pollution

Long-term exposure to coal-related air pollution contributes to approximately 1.5 million deaths per year in India, yet pollution is rarely listed as a cause of death on official certificates, obscuring the true toll.

Medical evidence shows lungs turning black

Chest surgeons report that adult lungs now appear filled with carbon and toxins rather than the healthy pink tissue seen in the past, with children showing such severe deposits that life expectancy is severely compromised.

Mining devastates local communities and land

Coal extraction destroys agriculture, disrupts drainage patterns, generates methane emissions, and repeatedly displaces small farmers (75% of whom hold less than 2 acres), while the burning process releases nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, and carbon monoxide.

No cheap natural gas alternative exists

Unlike the US and Europe, which transitioned away from coal using cheap domestic natural gas, India lacks affordable gas reserves and cannot afford mass imports, leaving coal as the only viable baseload option for now.

Geographic mismatch complicates worker relocation

Coal mining concentrates in eastern India while solar potential lies in the west and north, making simple 'retraining for solar' impossible without massive migration or abandoning entire regional economies.

Historical emissions argument shapes climate policy

India argues at COP that it bears less than 5% of historical emissions despite having 17% of the world's population, insisting on 'common but differentiated responsibilities' that prioritize energy security over rapid decarbonization.

Renewables dominate new capacity additions

India targets 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, with renewables accounting for 80-85% of all new power generation capacity installed in the last five years.

Gradual decline predicted over 25 years

Energy experts forecast coal's share will decline from 70% to 30% over roughly 25 years through natural attrition and renewable growth, rather than an immediate phase-out, with nuclear potentially replacing retired coal plants.

Economic reality will eventually force change

While coal will likely persist until the 2070 net-zero deadline, analysts predict it will eventually become more expensive than alternatives while remaining environmentally destructive, creating pressure for faster transition.