Coal deposits are mainly confined to eastern and south-central parts of the country.
The states of Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra account for 98.58% of the total coal reserves in the country.
The State of Jharkhand had the maximum share (26.29%) in the overall ‑reserves of coal in the country as on 31st March 2016 followed by the State of Odisha (24.58%).
As on 31.03.16, the estimated reserves of coal were 308.80 billion tonnes, an addition of 2.20 billion tonnes over the last year.
There has been an increase of 0.7% in the estimated coal reserves during the year 2015-16 with Chhattisgarh accounting for the maximum increase of 2.05%.
The estimated total reserves of lignite as on 31.03.16 was 44.59 billion tonnes against 44.12 billion tonnes on 31.03.15.
Petroleum and Natural Gas
The estimated reserves of crude oil in India as on 31.03.2016 stood at 621.10 million tonnes (MT) against 635.60 million tonnes on 31.03.2015.
Geographical distribution of Crude oil indicates that the maximum reserves are in the Western Offshore (39.79%) followed by Assam (25.89%), whereas the maximum reserves of Natural Gas are in the Eastern Offshore (36.79%) followed by Western offshore (23.95%).
There was decrease of 2.28% in the estimated reserve of crude oil for the country as a whole during 2015-16 as compared to the position a year ago.
During the same period, estimated reserves of crude oil in Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Assam decreased by 44.75, 17.04 and 2.11 % respectively, while the same in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Western Offshore and Eastern Offshore increased by 18.42 %, 15.30% , 2.58%, 1.88% and 0.59% respectively.
The estimated reserves of Natural Gas in India as on 31.03.2016 stood at 1227.23 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) as against 1251.90 BCM as on 31.03.2015.
The estimated reserves of Natural Gas decreased by 1.97% over the last year. The maximum contribution to this decrease has been from Western Offshore, followed by Eastern Offshore.
Renewable Energy Sources
There is high potential for generation of renewable energy from various sources of wind, solar, biomass, small hydro and cogeneration bagasse.
The total potential for renewable power generation in the country as on 31.03.16 is estimated at 1198856 MW.
This includes wind power potential of 102788 MW (8.57%) at 80m hub height, wind power potential of 302235 MW (25.21%) at 100 m hub height, SHP (small-hydro power) potential of 19749 MW (1.65%), Biomass power of 17,538 MW (1.46%), 5000 MW (0.42%) from bagasse-based cogeneration in sugar mills, 2556 MW (0.21%) from waste to energy and solar power potential of 748990 MW (62.48%).
The geographic distribution of the estimated potential of renewable power as on 31.03.2016 reveals that Rajasthan has the highest share of about 14% (167276 MW), followed by Gujarat with 13% share (157158 MW) and Maharashtra with 10% share (119893MW), mainly on account of solar power potential.
Role of Energy in Sustainable Development
India is at a stage of development that requires it to grow at a fast rate and lift the large number of itscitizens from below the poverty line.
Energy deprivation levels for a sizeable portion of population remain at high levels. The SDG 7 is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
The importance given to secure energy access is also due to the fact that access to energy is intertwined with the various other economic and social developmental objectives such as poverty alleviation, health, industrialisation, education, provision of communication infrastructure, and climate change mitigation among others.
In India, the burden of collecting fuelwood and water and cooking falls disproportionately on the female members of households.
The adverse impacts of indoor air pollution also fall disproportionately on women and children who are directly involved in cooking or spend a major portion of their time indoors.
Its importance in achieving economic prosperity is straightforward. However, it is also directly and indirectly linked to other sustainable development objectives such as good health and well-being, gender equality, industry, innovation and infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities.
