'Will need coal despite green energy push'

Power minister Pralhad Joshi says ‘net zero’ doesn’t mean not producing emission, but it is about absorbing whatever is being emitted. In an interview to TOI’s Sanjay Dutta, Joshi said India is working towards building that capacity as the country will need coal in spite of the thrust on renewables. Excerpts from the interview:

- Sanjay Dutta

How difficult is it being the coal minister when the world is clamouring for phasing out the dry fuel?

My paramount job is to ensure India’s energy security. Our emission is a third of the major economies. No doubt, we will do more renewables. But our energy requirement will grow manifold. The PM is very clear that we must save the world and we will sacrifice whatever we have to for this. We will arrest our emission, but we will use our natural resources for energy security.

So, coal will remain the mainstay of our energy basket?