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India Turns to Coal As a Solution Following World's Largest Power Outage

 
Massive electrical outages that swept through India twice in two days speak to the importance of coal, say analysts. Coal is the only sustainable fuel with the low cost and large scale to meet the demand of this fast-growing nation of 1.2 billion people. This fact was underscored by a blackout that put 700 million Indians -- 10 percent of the global population -- in the dark.

India’s energy needs are escalating rapidly as the nation comes closer to its goal of becoming a global economic superpower, but it’s faltering energy infrastructure could derail this dream. Although India is used to frequent blackouts, this week’s power crisis was the worst in more than a decade, affecting half the nation, including its capital of New Delhi, and crippling commercial activity on a vast scale. Three regional power grids collapsed after states tried to draw electricity “beyond their permissible limits,” India’s power minister, Sushilkumar Shinde, told ABC News. In the ABC News report, Indian officials voiced growing concerns about the “increasing gap between electricity supply and demand” and urged increasing coal supplies and improving infrastructure.

One-third of India’s population lacks electricity. Families with access to affordable coal-fueled power also benefit from light, heat and water sanitization that is essential to a higher quality of life. Studies show that every tenfold increase in electricity is linked with a better standard of living, higher literacy and a healthier population. No wonder Indians are calling for more coal.