India still plans to double coal output by 2020 and to rely on the resource for decades afterwards, a senior official said, days after 190-odd countries agreed to begin reining in rising greenhouse gas emissions.
India, the world´s third-largest carbon emitter, is dependant on coal for about two-thirds of its energy needs and has vowed to mine more of the fuel to power its resource-hungry economy, while also pledging to raise clean energy generation. ¨Our dependence on coal will continue. There are no other alternatives available...Nothing has changed (following the Paris accord),¨ Anil Swarup said.
While India has plans to add 30 times more solar-powered generation capacity by 2022, there are limitations to clean energy and coal would remain the most efficient energy source for decades, he said.