The Planning Commission feels that India will still face a shortfall of about 200 million tonne of the fuel source by the end of the 12th Plan Period. IA Khan, Advisor Energy, Planning Commission, said that India would have to depend on imported coal, unless it is able to tap other natural resources to a greater extent for power production. India?s coal demand is estimated to go up from 640 million tonne in 2011 to 12 to about 980 million tonne by the end of the 12th Plan, by which time its production could reach 795 million tonne.

He said that the shortfall will still be about 200 million tonne given other factors. The Planning Commission has come out with a three-pronged strategy to combat the energy woes. This involves making full use of available resources, enhancing renewable energy production and moving towards a more energy efficient regime.

India has planned a capacity addition of 1.18 lakh mw of energy during the 12th Plan, up from 69,251 mw in the last Plan. And out of this, the share of renewable energy in the current Plan is targeted at 30,000 mw, up from 14,267 mw added in the last Plan.