TNN 21 December 2009, 07:17am IST
VARANASI: Can clean coal technology bring about efficient and eco-friendly use of coal energy, the largest energy energy experts are to be believed, the country needs early adoption of green mining system
(in coal fields) for sustainable and environment-friendly use of coal energy.
"More than 50 per cent of country's energy requirement is dependent on coal and the situation is not going to change in the coming 50 years," said Prof YP Chugh, energy expert from the US while talking to TOI on Sunday. "There is a growing need for sustainable development of mining system and switching over to green mining system like the US could be a better option," he added.
It may be mentioned here that Prof Chugh is a member of the International Task Force working for sustainable coal development in China that has world's largest coal deposits. In addition, he has also worked for sustainable development of mining system in the US.
"It is not necessary that the technology used in the US is also feasible in India, but efforts should be made for promoting energy-efficient and eco-friendly methods for generating energy," he said, hinting at the use of green mining system with some modifications. The target of energy production should be to cause minimal loss to the environment, in addition to coming up with cheap and reliable technology, he added.
Saying he had worked for dust control in underground coal beds in the US, he added it was important to minimise the exposure of work force to particulate matter, the pollutants in the coal fields. Similarly, efforts like reduction of amount of silica and coal dust apart from coal combustion by products including fly ash, bottom ash and other gasification by products could also be introduced in the green mining system, he said.
Prof Chugh was a key participant of the three-day international conference on issues and challenges in energy conversion and management (ICEM), organised in the department of Mechanical Engineering, IT, BHU, also concluding on Sunday.
"The country can no longer afford to use coal energy without taking care of the environment as it can backfire with colossal loss to human life and property," he said. "The focus should be on developing cheap, reliable and sustainable technology that leads to efficient energy consumption besides protecting the environment," he concluded.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Green-mining-system-for-efficient-use-of-coal-energy/articleshow/5359871.cms
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