Washington Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that coal is going to make a comeback once again as gas is very expensive amid the global energy crisis. Sitharaman said that the countries of the western world are again moving towards coal. She is in the US to attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Talking to Indian journalists here on Saturday, he said, “Countries in the western world are moving towards coal. Austria has already said this, and today they are going back to coal.” Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Western countries have imposed a series of sanctions that have sharply cut natural gas supplies to Europe. In such a situation, it has become necessary for them to look for alternative energy resources.
In response to a question, the Finance Minister said that an old thermal power plant in Britain is also being remodeled for production. Sitharaman said, “Actually he is remodeling himself for a heating unit. In this way, not only India, but many countries (coal side) are making a comeback. Coal is going to come back now, because I think gas can’t be afforded now. Or the gas is not available as much as it needs. He said that Europe has made the right decision and if they are not getting the gas they need, then other sources will have to be found.