Ranchi, 20 June 2024 — The Task Force-Sustainable Just Transition (Government of Jharkhand) and its technical partner, the Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED), released a groundbreaking report titled “Critical Minerals for Energy Transition: A Catalyst for Making Jharkhand Future-Ready” at a conference today. The report, prepared by Task Force and CEED, highlights the significance of critical minerals in accelerating initiatives for decarbonization and cleaner energy transition for shaping a sustainable future.

The report was unveiled by the Chairman of the State Finance Commission (GoJ) and senior officials from the Departments of Industries, Mines & Geology in the presence of key representatives from public sector undertakings, energy think tanks and civil society organizations.

Critical minerals often referred to as rare earth elements and other strategic minerals, play an indispensable role in the production of a diverse range of high-tech applications, including electronics, renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, defence systems, and advanced medical devices.

Lauding the key theme of the report, Mr. A.P. Singh (IAS, retd.), Chairman of the State Finance Commission, Government of Jharkhand emphasised that the worldwide transition to cleaner energy sources is heavily reliant on the responsible extraction of critical minerals and efficient resource management. Identifying and utilizing mineral-rich regions like Jharkhand can catalyze industrial development, opening avenues for investments, employment opportunities, and infrastructural growth.

Through an exhaustive review of the literature and international case studies, the report broadly explores 35 critical minerals, with a focused analysis of 17 pivotal to India’s pursuit of sustainable energy solutions. Moving ahead, the report further analyses the case of Jharkhand, which houses deposits of 12 critical minerals, particularly copper, nickel, graphite, silicon, cobalt, lithium, cadmium, titanium, gallium, selenium, etc.

Elaborating on the broader context of the report, Mr. A.K. Rastogi (IFS, retd.), Chairperson of the Task Force-Sustainable Just Transition, Jharkhand, emphasized that the transition towards a low-carbon and sustainable energy landscape relies heavily on critical minerals. Similarly, the report highlights Jharkhand’s importance to India’s energy independence and robust supply network. The study further notes the potential to stimulate growth, and innovation in clean energy technologies, attract investments, and create jobs in Jharkhand.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sashi Ranjan (IAS), Director – Mines, Department of Mines and Geology, Jharkhand, spoke about the state’s mining capabilities and infrastructure support in meeting the heightened demand and contributing significantly to India’s goals. Shri Sushant Gaurav (IAS), Director, Department of Industries, Jharkhand, stressed the need for research & development and investment in broadening a cleaner industrial base.

Lauding the effort taken by the state government on cleaner energy transition, Mr. Ramapati Kumar, CEO of CEED stated that the report marks a pivotal step towards enabling Jharkhand to become future-ready. He further noted that balancing industrial exploitation with environmental preservation remains a key challenge that requires meticulous planning and effective governance with a convergence approach.

The two-panel discussions witnessed the participation of senior government officials and leading experts, including Shri Inderdev Narayan(CMD-Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Ltd.), Shri Manoj Kumar (Director – Geology, Dept. of Mines and Geology), Shri K.K. Verma, Director, JREDA, Mr. Achyut Ghatak (Director-Technical, CMPDI), Dr. Niharika Tagotra (Senior Research Specialist, World Resources Institute), Shri Charith Konda (Energy Specialist, IEEFA), Dr. Manish Ram (Director – Climate & Energy, CEED), Shri Ashwani Ashok (Director – JT & Environment, CEED), Shri Siddharth Goel (Lead, Energy Program, International Institute for Sustainable Development), and Shri Apoorv Kulkarni, Head of Research, OMI Foundation.

The key ideas and suggestions that emanated from the discussions were; standardizing regulations, overcoming technological and economic barriers, conducting techno-commercial feasible studies, efficient mineral resource management, sharing technologies and know-how, attracting investment in research and development to improve extraction techniques, sustainable mining practices to mitigate impacts, developing efficient recycling methods with a circular economy approach, supply chain stability, and shift to sustainable energy solutions, etc.

Ranchi, 16 February 2024: The conference ‘Sustainable Transition for Future-Ready Jharkhand’ culminated with a resounding call to synchronize efforts towards a just transition alongside achieving inclusive social development goals. The convergence of over 300 delegates spanning government officials, thought leaders, industry representatives and sustainability experts from 30 countries yielded pivotal recommendations. These include creating institutional financing mechanisms for driving transition measures, securing climate finance to propel green growth, fostering an enabling ecosystem to drive innovation, and nurturing partnerships across diverse stakeholders.

The event was organised by the Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition, Govt of Jharkhand with support from Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (India) and the World Resources Institute (India).

Addressing the conclave, Mr. Avinash Kumar (IAS), Development Commissioner & Additional Chief Secretary, Dept. of Energy (Govt. of Jharkhand) highlighted the critical need to embrace green growth through energy transition for advancement of inclusive future. He laid emphasis on delicately balancing societal expectations, environment preservation, and economic advancement in the transition process. He also suggested creating an institutional mechanism for sustainable transition. He assured that the state government will earnestly consider the recommendations from the conference to make these integral part of future course of actions.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ajoy Kumar Singh (IAS), Principal Secretary, Dept. of Health, Medical Education & Family Welfare (Govt. of Jharkhand) pointed out that the sustainable transition process in Jharkhand requires the procurement of climate finance to create new economic opportunities, build social infrastructure, drive technological innovations and inclusive development.

Ms. Vandana Dadel (IAS) Principal Secretary, Dept. of Forest, Environment & Climate Change (Govt. of Jharkhand) noted that sustainability and inclusivity are the core tenets of sustainable transition. Decentralised planning right from the panchayat level, inclusion of the indigenous knowledge in climate resilience measures and capacitation of community and multiple stakeholders are key to a shared journey towards transition.

While outlining the outcomes, Mr. A.K. Rastogi (IFS, Retd.), Chairperson, Task Force-Sustainable Just Transition (Govt. of Jharkhand) stressed that it has become abundantly clear that we are on the cusp of a profound shift towards a green economy. As outcomes, the conference has fostered collaborations, shared knowledge and laid emphasis on developing an institution mechanism for sustainable transition and creating a dedicated transition fund for accelerating future directions. Conference further put emphasis on creating a knowledge hub and a centre of excellence in Jharkhand. Now the need of the hour is to mobilize resources & expertise, undertake new pilot projects, enhance capacitations to meet the state’s goals.

Notable dignitaries from key departments & agencies who shared perspectives were: Mr. Aboobacker Siddique P. (IAS) Secretary, Dept. of Mines & Geology; Mr. Jitendra Kumar Singh (IAS), Secretary, Dept. of Industries; Mr. Arwa Rajkamal (IAS), Secretary, Dept. of ST, SC, Minority & Backward Class Welfare; Mr. Amit Kumar (IAS), Director, State Urban Development Agency, Jharkhand; Ms. Madhavi Mishra (IAS), Managing Director, Jharkhand Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation; Ms. Deepthi Jayaraj (IRS), Special Secretary, Department of Finance; and Mr. Sanjiv Kumar (IFS), APCCF-CAMPA, Jharkhand, etc.

Mr Ramapati Kumar, CEO of CEED highlighted that in light of the learnings from Global North and South, Jharkhand is developing cross-sectoral pathways and transition roadmaps to contribute in global effort on climate action. He further emphasized the necessity of inter-sectoral convergence and partnerships among key actors & enablers to facilitate a strategic shift for benefiting the people at the bottom of the pyramid.

The second day witnessed plenary and thematic sessions on ‘Driving Coal Transition: Avenues for Economic Diversification, Repurposing and Social Protection, Envisioning a Decarbonised Tomorrow: Pathways to the Low-Carbon Futures, Revolutionising Transport: Steering Towards a Sustainable Mobility, and Climate Finance: Levers and Drivers for Greening the Economy.

With representation from stakeholders including influential figures across the globe, public sector undertakings, industries and civil society underscored the creation of enabling policy atmosphere and investment frameworks to shape the journey towards sustainable transition.

The collaborative dialogue witnessed active participation from esteemed delegates representing a diverse array of organizations, including UNDP India, WRI India, the World Bank, International Labour Organization, Coal India Ltd., Central Coalfields Ltd., Steel Authority India Ltd., National Thermal Power Corporation, National Productivity Council, Indian Institute of Forest Management, GIZ-India, Open Energy Transition-Germany, International Council on Clean Transportation, International Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), iFOREST Global, The Climate Group, India Climate Collaborative, Climate Policy Institute, Climate Bond Initiative, among others.

Ranchi, 15 February 2024: In a bid to bolster Jharkhand’s efforts for sustainable transition, a two-day international conference ‘Sustainable Transition for Future-Ready Jharkhand : Global Perspectives & Learnings for Climate Resilient Growth’ commenced today, aiming to integrate global best practices locally. Organised by the Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition (Govt. of Jharkhand), with support from its technical partner Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) and in association with United Nations Development Program (UNDP-India) and World Resources Institute (WRI-India), this landmark event gathered luminaries from across the globe. The conference also witnessed the launching of the official website of the Task Force.

The conference witnessed the confluence of leaders and renowned experts from multilateral organizations, philanthropies, industries, alongside experts hailing from about thirty nations, including influential voices from Japan, USA, Germany, South Africa, South Korea, Indonesia. etc. With esteemed representation of senior officials from central and state government departments & agencies— notably from Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, and Jharkhand—the discourse is poised to chart decisive pathways for sustainable just transition at subnational level.

Key dignitaries, Mr L. Khiangte (IAS), Chief Secretary, Govt. of Jharkhand; Mr. A.K. Rastogi (IFS, retd.), Chairperson, Task Force-Sustainable Just Transition (Govt. of Jharkhand); Mr. Manoj Singh (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary, Dept. of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh; Mr. Sundeep Nayak (IAS, Retd.), Former Director General, National Productivity Council (India); Mr. S. Suresh Kumar (IAS), Chairman, Damodar Valley Corporation; Dr Sanjay Srivastava (IFS), PCCF & HoFF, Jharkhand; Mr. Sanjay Srivastava (IFS), PCCF, Uttar Pradesh; Dr D.K. Saxena (IFS), APCCF, Jharkhand; Mr. Ashish Tiwari (IFS), Secretary, Dept. of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh; Mr. S. Rakesh Kumar (IFS), Director, Dept. of Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing, Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir and Ms. Isabelle Tschan, Resident Representative, UNDP-India, among others graced the occasion.

Addressing the august gathering, Mr L. Khiangte (IAS), Chief Secretary, Govt. of Jharkhand underscored the profound significance of sustainable transition as a catalyst for holistic advancement. Emphasizing no one is left behind in the transition phase, he outlined the need for multi-stakeholder collaborations and partnership. He further affirmed the state’s commitment to steering Jharkhand towards a green economy and strengthening India’s journey towards climate goals and net-zero target.

Further elucidating the objectives of the conference, Mr. A.K. Rastogi (IFS, retd.), Chairperson, Task Force-Sustainable Just Transition (Govt. of Jharkhand) marked this conference as a monumental milestone, offering a comprehensive array of multi-sectoral strategies on environmental, social, gender and economic considerations. He further added that the initiative adopts a proactive, opportunity-driven lens to acknowledge Jharkhand’s potential in realising climate-compatible growth, setting a precedent for transformative action worldwide.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Manoj Singh (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Govt. of Uttar Pradesh) pointed out that Jharkhand has become a beacon for other states by outlining the sustainable transition strategies. For envisioning a climate compatible decarbonised tomorrow, embracing low-carbon innovations and transformative strategies are paramount.

Addressing the conference, Ms. Isabelle Tschan, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Program (UNDP-India) laid emphasis on creating knowledge sharing platforms and bringing in tech know-how on innovative and game changing technologies to bolster clean energy infrastructure, investment and alternative livelihood for benefiting the state and community at the last mile.

While lauding the state’s initiative, Mr Ramapati Kumar, CEO of CEED emphasised its role in fostering a collaborative forum where the finest global ideas converge, poised for replication at the subnational level to yield tangible results. Mr. Kumar further underscored the need of climate governance approach for creating conducive policy atmosphere, financial mechanisms and onboarding stakeholders to achieve state’s goals on climate resilience and energy security.

Spread over two days, the conference has been split into thematic sessions to explore the multifaceted aspects of transition. The first day witnessed plenary and thematic sessions on ‘Progress Towards Climate Goals and Net-Zero : Best Practices & Learnings from Global South & North, Sustainable Energy Transitions: Envisaging the Strategic Shift; Socially Inclusive Livelihood Transition : Capacitation and Community Participation for Greener Jobs. Senior officials from various departments such as Energy, Planning & Development, Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Industries, Agriculture, Transport, Labour, Training & Employment also shared insights in sessions.

The expected outcome of the conference are knowledge sharing of global best practices and experiences of transitions from Global North and South; discuss socio-economic impacts of low-carbon strategies for maximizing co-benefits; foster collaboration and partnership between actors and enablers to drive the paradigmatic shift and explore policy frameworks to strengthen capacity and governance for implementation of strategies.

The collaborative dialogue witnessed active participation of high level delegates from the UNDP India, WRI India, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Labour Organisation, Coal India Ltd., Central Coalfields Ltd., Steel Authority India Ltd, National Thermal Power Corporation, National Productivity Council, Indian Institute of Forest Management, MacArthur Foundation, Stitching SED Fund, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, GIZ-India, Open Energy Transition-Germany, International Council on Clean Transportation, International Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), The Climate Group, India Climate Collaborative, Climate Policy Institute, Climate Bond Initiative, BEST-Maharastra, among others.

Ranchi, 03 December 2022: The Task Force for Sustainable Just Transition held a consultation meeting with representatives of key industries of the state today to receive their inputs and suggestions on Term of Reference (TOR) in light of its overall objectives and mandates defined by the State Government. The meeting was attended by top leaders of key industries and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) largely working under the fossil fuel based ecosystems, who lauded the initiative taken by the State Government on constituting the task force and further pledged their support for steps towards low carbon pathway in Jharkhand.

Addressing the consultation, Mr A. K. Rastogi (IFS, Retd.), Chairman of the Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition said that, “Industry sector has an important role to contribute in achieving net-zero target and climate commitments by reducing emissions and shifting towards innovative technological changes, best sustainable practices and decarbonisation efforts in their work operation. Since the industry and business sector is the key driver of the economy and crucial for growth and employment generation, the task force is taking a collaborative process to on-board these stakeholders to finalise the TOR to further prepare a roadmap for a sustainable and forward looking economy in the state.” He further added that in light of India’s net-zero goals by 2070 and a 500 GW non-fossil fuel target by 2030, fossil fuel dependent sectors have to redefine and reinvent themselves for supporting greener development pathways in the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ramapati Kumar, CEO of Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) said that, ‘Commitment to the green transition would encourage industries and investors to move towards a progressive ecosystem that will help in reducing the risk perceptions and unlock greater potential. Also, an efficient climate governance with strong institutional and public participation and convergence among different actors will immensely contribute in achieving sustainable and just transition in the state.”

The key pointers for the framework that suggested by the industries were as follows; commitment towards carbon emission reduction targets in a time bound and result oriented manner, energy security mapping and renewable energy integration, sustainable mobility, increase usage of alternative fuels and green technologies, infrastructure support for carbon storage, sequestration and utilisation, harnessing green finance and carbon market, incentivization for industries in achieving emission target, providing sustainable livelihood options, diversification of local economy for benefits of communities, and subsequent policy changes etc.

This consultation was a part of a series of meetings the task force is undertaking with key stakeholders such as industries, business sectors, think-tanks, civil society organisations, workers and communities to finalise the priorities and area of work. The meeting was attended by prominent public sector units e.g. CCL, Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL), Damodar Valley Corporation, leading corporates like Tata Steel, Tata Power, Hindalco, Jindal Steel, Adani Industries, etc from the state.

Ranchi, 25 April 2023: A stakeholder consultation ‘Developing Green Hydrogen Ecosystem for Jharkhand’ was jointly organised by the Task Force on Green Hydrogen Mission, Government of Jharkhand and Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) in association with Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Tata Steel today. The main objective of the consultation was to sensitise the key stakeholders about the challenges and prospects of green hydrogen and bring their solution-driven perspectives and support in Jharkhand. This consultation witnessed participation from top officials from the government department and agencies and leaders from major industries, public sector undertakings, business associations, research think-tanks and techno-solutions providers from India and Jharkhand.

Addressing the conference, Mr Avinash Kumar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Energy, Jharkhand said that, ‘The state government is committed to ensure energy security in the state and accordingly cleaner sources of energy have been prioritised. As a form of clean energy, hydrogen is the future. Green hydrogen is considered the next big thing to fulfil the net-zero ambitions and climate related goals in India and Jharkhand. As per the mandates of the National Green Hydrogen Mission and net-zero scenario, we are also exploring its huge potential in the state to bring its economic advantages and environmental co-benefits in the state.’

For achieving the net-zero scenario, the Government of India has launched a National Green Hydrogen Mission in 2022 and subsequently announced Green Hydrogen Policy. As a part of the mandates, the Government of Jharkhand has formed a ‘Task Force on Green Hydrogen Mission’ in March 2023 to assess the current scenario of hydrogen energy, best practices from around the globe, its applicability and suitability for the state and accordingly create a roadmap for implementing the mission in Jharkhand. The task force is chaired by Mr A.K. Rastogi (IFS Retd.) and its nominated members include senior officials from Energy and Forest departments along with Mr Partha Majumdar (Regional Executive Director, NTPC) and Mr B. Sai Ram (Director-Project and Planning, CCL) and Mr Ajit Dhanraj Kothari (Chief- Sustainability and Decarbonisation project, Tata Steel). CEED has been roped in as a technical partner to provide handholding support to the Task force.

The consultation also saw gracious presence of top officials from the state government, particularly Mr Aboobacker Siddique P., (IAS), Secretary, Department of Mines and Geology and Mr Jitendra Kumar Singh (IAS), Secretary, Department of Industries, Jharkhand who also addressed the gathering and emphasised the need to harnessing green hydrogen for a better future of the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr A.K. Rastogi (IFS Retd.), Chairman of Task Force on Green Hydrogen Mission said that “Jharkhand is primarily an industrialised state with a strong presence of industries of iron-steel, transport vehicles, cement and others. Broadly these sectors are considered as hard to abate in terms of the decarbonisation process, where the role of low carbon energy and technologies is crucial. This requires a holistic approach in presenting technical know-how, infrastructure support and ecosystem change. As per the mandates set by Government of Jharkhand, the task force has started conducting consultations and workshops with key stakeholders to prepare a repository of information in light of the best practices to create an action plan for tapping green hydrogen in the state.’

As a form of cleaner energy hydrogen has been categorised in various categories such as grey, black, blue and green based on its sources. At present, all of the hydrogen consumed in India comes from fossil fuels. As per the estimates of Niti Aayog and other institutions, there will be about 23 MT hydrogen demand by 2050 in India, while currently the current output is only at 6.7 MT. However, by 2050, nearly 80% of India’s hydrogen is projected to be ‘green’ – produced by renewable electricity and electrolysis.

Lauding the state’s effort for constituting a dedicated task force to harness green hydrogen, Mr Ramapati Kumar, CEO of CEED said, “Indeed this is a pathbreaking move and CEED feels immense pride in working as its technical partner. Blessed with abundant natural resources and human capital, Jharkhand has a significant advantage in the production of hydrogen energy. However, an assessment of renewable energy sources in the state is prerequisite for mapping out the prospects of green hydrogen. For this, a detailed techno-economic assessment is needed to know the current status, future demands and road-ahead to capitalise the opportunities. Thereafter, creation of a roadmap will set a new trajectory of industrial development with sustainability principles and decarbonisation at the core of every step.’

The workshop had two technical sessions ‘Development of the hydrogen ecosystem to enable sustainable growth’ and ‘Initiatives by industry on hydrogen- challenges and opportunities’, which presented several key ideas and recommendations to create a green hydrogen ecosystem through production, storage, transportation through utilisation of cleaner sources of energy. The key ideas and solutions presented were; futuristic industrial & manufacturing planning, demand-management measures in circular economy, energy-efficiency improvements, GHGs inventorisation, environment, social and governance compliances, harnessing carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies, deployment of new innovative technologies by collaborative R&D, capitalising of carbon credit and market, arrangement of climate financing, and developing longer-term roadmaps for the state.

The workshop witnessed participation of top leaders of industry, public sector undertakings, business associations, sustainability think-tanks, MSME sector and techno-solutions providers from India. The notable people include Mr. B. Sairam, Director, CCL, Mr. Rajiv Mangal, Vice President- Safety, Health and Sustainability, TATA Steel; Mr. Jagabatha Ningthoujam, Principal, Rocky Mountain Institute-India, Mr. DMR Panda, GM, NTPC, Mr. Jaideep Malik, Business Development, Hydrogen, John Cockerill, Ms. Kajol, Sr. Manager, Industrial Decarbonization, Energy, WRI, Mr. P. C. Jha Chief Manager, Environment, CMPDI , Mr. Anand Kumar, Head, Policy Affairs and Project Development, Hygenco, etc. and representatives from academia and research institutions. The conference also witnessed participation from key government dept & agencies, prominent public sector units e.g. CCL,, BCCL, CMPDI, NTPC, and leading corporates like Tata Steel, Tata Power among others.

Ranchi, 14 June 2023: The Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition, Government of Jharkhand and its technical partner Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) jointly organised a stakeholder consultation ‘Decarbonising the Power Sector in Jharkhand’ in the city. The main objective of the consultation was to deliberate on the pathways to decarbonise the power and electricity sector to augment the sustainable energy transition and net-zero scenario in the state. The consultation was attended by the leading power generation companies from government and private sectors, public sector undertakings, think-tanks and clean energy solutions providers from the state.

Outlining the broader goals of the consultation, Mr A.K. Rastogi (IFS Retd.), Chairman of Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition said that “This consultation is part of a series with key segments and industries to know the perspectives of the stakeholders involved and explore the sustainable pathways for the sectors. Electricity is regarded as the lifeline of industrial growth and socio-economic development. One of the challenges of decarbonising the power sector is sufficiently reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while ensuring reliability and affordability of electricity generation. it is crucial to identify and explore potential opportunities for integrating decarbonising strategies through a holistic approach. The energy sector needs to adopt sustainability based operations, innovative measures like green hydrogen ecosystem and carbon capture, utilisation & storage facilities, and a mix of zero and lower-carbon generation capability for augmenting the process of energy security in the state.’

Decarbonising of the power sector broadly means reducing its carbon intensity which can be done through reducing the emissions per unit of electricity generated. In Jharkhand, the power generation scenario indicates heavy reliance on the thermal power segment which is significantly high at 93.5%, whereas hydro and solar energy sources contribute roughly about 4.8% and 2.25% respectively. As Jharkhand is largely an industrialised state, the industry sector is the primary consumer of electricity, accounting for approximately 67%, followed by the domestic sector at 23.4%, and the transport sector at 3.7%.

Emphasising the cleaner energy transition in the sector, Mr Ramapati Kumar, CEO of CEED said, ‘To offset the climate impacts and moving towards a sustainable development approach, the state needs to tilt its energy mix in favour of renewables. Decarbonisation can be achieved by increasing the share of low-carbon energy sources and a corresponding reduction in the use of fossil fuels. The obligated entities must follow the renewable purchase obligations (RPO) trajectory to promote generation and consumption of renewable energy in the state. The decarbonisation process requires hand-holding support, incentives and an enabling framework for the existing and prospective players to adopt measures on lowering carbon intensity and encouraging them fir cleaner options to contribute to a sustainable growth trajectory in the state.’’

The technical session mooted key ideas and solutions through engagement of experts and industry representatives. The key pointers that presented were; continued substitution of lower-emission power sources; improvements in end-use efficiency; improved grid flexibility and storage; the use of modern infrastructure like carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), green hydrogen ecosystem and developing short and long-term pathways for the sector. The consultation witnessed participation of senior officials of PSUs and private companies such as National Thermal Corporation, Tata Power, Damodar Valley Corporation, Tenughat Vidyut Nigam Limited, Usha Martin, Inland Power Ltd, Gracim, ACC, Ranchi Partners Consultants and clean energy companies from the state.

Ranchi, 05 December 2023 : A state level conference ‘Facilitating Decarbonisation in Jharkhand’ was jointly organised by the Task Force- Sustainable Just Transition, Government of Jharkhand and its technical partner Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) today. The key objective of the conference was to discuss the challenges of reducing carbon emissions and outline the decarbonisation pathways for Jharkhand. The conference convened key stakeholders from government departments and agencies, industries, business associations and technology firms from the state and beyond who pledged support and provided strategic input for creating sustainable pathways towards reducing cross-sector emissions.

While elaborating the intent and context of the conference, Shri A.K. Rastogi (IFS, Retd.), Chairman, Task Force- Sustainable Just Transition (Government of Jharkhand) said, “Jharkhand is known for its robust industrial base and presence of large industries and MSMEs. Developing a comprehensive cross-sectoral decarbonization framework for the state is one of the key thematic areas for the task force. We had conducted several consultation sessions with diverse stakeholders in previous months, and one overarching theme that came across was accelerating the decarbonisation journey in the state. Hence, this conference marks a crucial step towards sharing knowledge and best practices, building partnerships and accelerating convergence of actions for a resilient and low-carbon future.”

Jharkhand has several energy-intensive industrial activities that lead to a considerable amount of GHG emissions. The study report suggests that the state contributes about 4% of total GHG emission in the country while per capita emission is more than national average. A critical challenge is the dominance of fossil fuels in the state’s energy mix. The presence of hard-to-abate industries (e.g. steel, sponge iron, cement, and ammonia production) place the need of augmenting the decarbonisation process to meet net-zero goals.

During the technical sessions, Shri Bhor Singh Yadav (IAS), Director at Department of Industries (Government of Jharkhand) emphasised that the department is supportive of creating an environment conducive to sustainable Industries practices through incentives, capacitation and hand-holding support for steering toward a low-carbon industrial ecosystem.

Shri Arava Rajkamal (IAS), Director-Mines, Department of Mines and Geology (Government of Jharkhand) laid emphasis on incorporating novel technologies such as automation, data analytics, and AI for efficient mineral explorations and industrial operations in reducing energy consumption, and improving overall sustainability.

A strong emphasis on a multi-stakeholder approach resonated throughout the conference. Shri Ramapati Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, CEED, emphasized that ‘Decarbonization process requires a collective effort. A convergence approach, with partnerships and collaborations between state agencies, industries and business players and research think-tanks, is fundamental. Decarbonization is not just about meeting emission targets; it’s about forging a sustainable and climate resilient future for the state.’

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Amit Bhatt, Managing Director, International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) emphasise the need for accelerating the shift towards green hydrogen based fleet and electric vehicles, investing in robust charging infrastructure, and collaborating with industries and technology firms to make clean transportation efficient and the environment more sustainable.’

The technical sessions of the conference served as a knowledge-sharing, fostering collaborations that extend beyond geographical boundaries. The discussions put forth several key issues e.g. clean energy transition, sustainable mobility, green hydrogen hub, compliance of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability reporting, harnessing carbon capture & utilisation technology, green jobs, circular economy, nature-based climate solutions and supported capacitation & creating pilot studies for industries and MSMEs to advancing sustainable climate solutions in cross sectoral manner.

The notable speakers and panelists who shared insights and perspectives during the conference were, Dr DK Saxena (IFS), APCCF, Jharkhand; Shri Pradip Kumar, Joint Transport Commissioner, Department of Transport (Jharkhand); Shri Ajit Dhanraj Kothari-Chief (Sustainability and Decarbonisation Projects, E&P); Tata Steel, Shri Prasanta Bose-Vice President, Head -Technical, Sustainability & Production Planning, Hindalco Industries Ltd.; Dr. Manish Kumar, Director (R&D), Centre for Environment & Energy Development (CEED); Ms Shweta Khoshy, Project Analyst, UNDP India, Shri Abhishek Biswas-Director, Orica India; and Shri Aditya Malhotra, Vice President, Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce & Industries (FJCCI) etc.

Ranchi, 21 November 2022: The Task Force for Sustainable Just Transition held its first meeting at Palash Bhavan today with inter-departmental representations to set the priorities and goals in accordance with the mandate stated by the Government of Jharkhand. The meeting was attended by officials of the various departments who deliberated upon the objectives of the task force and expressed their commitment to support the initiative taken by the Government of Jharkhand to develop the sustainable development roadmap for Jharkhand. In the meeting, a draft Term of Reference (TOR) was shared by the task force’s chairman Mr A. K. Rastogi and based on deliberation it was agreed upon to consult various stakeholders to finalise the TOR by the end of January. It was agreed that apart from one to one meeting with key departments and agencies, a series of consultations with key stakeholders such as industries and business sectors, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), think-tanks, civil society organisations and communities will be organised.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr A. K. Rastogi (IFS, Retd.), Chairman of the Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition said that, “It is heartening to note that Jharkhand has taken a formidable step to prepare the state for a transition towards a green and sustainable model of development. With net-zero targets and sustainable development goals in mind, it will regularly consult and on board all stakeholders to prepare a roadmap on a low carbon development pathway in the state.”

Ranchi, 19 July 2023 : A Vision Document on Sustainable Just Transition ‘नव-निर्माण की ओर अग्रसर (Nav-Nirman Ki Ore Agrasar)’ was unveiled today by Shri Sukhdev Singh (IAS), Chief Secretary, Government of Jharkhand in gracious presence of Shri Amrit Lal Meena (IAS), Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Government of India, Shri L. Khiangte (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change (GoJ), Shri A.K. Rastogi (IFS Retd.), Chairman, Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition (GoJ), Dr. Sanjay Srivastava, IFS (PCCF & HoFF, Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change), Shri Shashikar Samanta, IFS (Chairman, Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board), and other senior officials from key departments of Jharkhand.

The launch event cum conference was organised by the Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition (GoJ) and its technical partner Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) in association with the Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change and Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board. The vision document outlines the strategic approach of the sustainable just transition process and intends to lay the foundation of the low-carbon development pathways for the state.

Addressing the conference, Shri Sukhdev Singh (IAS), Chief Secretary, Government of Jharkhand said that ‘This moment marks a groundbreaking initiative in our policy planning, as we set out on a transformative path towards sustainable development. The State Government believes that no one should be left behind in the sustainable transition. We aim to support India’s leadership in addressing energy security and socio-economic interests by forging a convergence of efforts towards a carbon-neutral and climate-resilient economy at both the national and state levels. We congratulate the task force for bringing out the vision document to outline the way forward in heralding growth, inclusiveness and social advancements in the state.’

The vision for the sustainable transition is guided by India’s ambitions towards a low carbon economy and sustainable development goals. The vision document has been prepared through a consultative process and is based on the perspectives from inter-departmental meetings and stakeholders consultations.

Pledging support to the process of sustainable transition and addressing the conference via online, Shri Amrit Lal Meena, IAS (Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Government of India) said that, “Jharkhand has become a beacon for other states by showcasing sustainable transition strategies. Congratulations to the State Government and task force for this pioneering initiative. Energy transition is vital for a low carbon economy, with coal’s role remaining significant in future. We wholeheartedly support the state’s journey towards sustainable energy transition pathways.’

Elaborating on the broader intent of the vision document, Shri A.K. Rastogi (IFS Retd.), Chairman, Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition (GoJ) said, ‘The vision document follows a structured approach through engaging in bottom-up planning, collaborating with research partners, and drawing inspiration from best practices around the globe. It provides a holistic approach with focus on thematic areas e.g. livelihood transition, energy transition, decarbonisation pathways, coal transition, sustainable mobility transition, green hydrogen, investment & finance and institutional framework to develop a cross-sectoral roadmap for future-ready Jharkhand. It prioritises people-centric policy interventions and a cohesive integration of environmental, social, and economic aspirations in the state.’

Emphasising the need of convergence approach in a multi-stakeholder setting, Shri Ramapati Kumar, CEO of CEED said that, ‘The vision document stands as a bold and farsighted initiative, presenting a comprehensive climate governance approach for the state. It highlights the imperative of a sustainable transition to chart a path toward a resilient future that complements national and global climate change endeavours. Essential to this process is inter-departmental and inter-sectoral convergence to foster climate-compatible growth. CEED is committed to provide solution-driven knowledge support to facilitate the state’s journey towards becoming a forward-looking economy.’

The conference witnessed participation of senior officers from key state departments and agencies, Mr. Aboobacker Siddique P., IAS (Secretary, Department of Mines & Geology and Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperative), Shri Chandra Shekhar, IAS (Secretary, Department of Rural Development), Shri Prashant Kumar, IAS (Secretary, Department of Planning & Development); Shri Sanjeev Besra, IAS (Labour Commissioner), Shri Y. K. Das, IFS (Member-Secretary, JSPCB), Dr. D.K. Saxena (APCCF, Dept of Forest) and Shri P.K. Hazari (Special Secretary, Department of Agriculture), etc. They collectively emphasised the need of enabling a convergence approach for sectoral transition and sustainable growth trajectory for the state.

The technical sessions (Industries as Catalyst for Sustainable Just Transition and Enabling Transition in Jharkhand : Challenges & Opportunities) were attended by stalwarts of industries, public sector undertaking and think-tanks, who lauded and supported the vision document for guiding the future course of actions.

Chief among these dignitaries were; Shri Ram Naresh Singh (Chairman, Damodar Valley Corporation), Shri Manoj Kumar (CMD, Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd), Shri Uwe Gehlen, (Head of Economic Cooperation and Development, India Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany), Shri Atanu Bhowmick (Director In-Charge, Bokaro Steel Plant & Rourkela Steel Plant, SAIL), Shri R.B. Prasad (Director-Technical & Operations, Central Coalfield Ltd), Shri S. Nagachari (Director-Technical/ES, Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd.), Shri Ashish Chaturvedi, (Head, Energy, Environment and Resilience, United Nations Development Programme), Shri Navonil Das (Advisor, GIZ), Shri Anoop Zachariah (Project Development Lead, Renew Power), Shri Deepak S. Krishnan (Deputy Director, Energy Programs, World Resource Institute), Shri Debnath Bera (Ranchi Partners Consultants), Shri Shreelata Krishnan (School of Policy and Governance) and Shri Jaideep Malik (John Cockerel Hydrogen), etc.

The conference facilitated the solution-driven ideas, perspectives and brought collaborative support from policymakers, industry & business leaders and eminent experts across India and Jharkhand.

Jamshedpur, 15 June 2023: The Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition, Government of Jharkhand and Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) jointly organised a stakeholder consultation ‘Decarbonising the Sponge-Iron Industries in Jharkhand’. The main objective of the consultation was to deliberate on the pathways to decarbonise the sponge-iron sector to contribute in the process of green steel production and net-zero scenario in the state. This consultation is a part of a series of meetings being conducted by the task force with different industrial sectors and associated stakeholders to receive their concerns and aspirations on the decarbonisation process for the larger aim of creating sectoral pathways under the ambit of sustainable energy transition in the state.

Elaborating about the intent of the consultation, Mr A.K. Rastogi (IFS Retd.), Chairman of Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition said that “Industry represents a significant portion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the state. The sponge-iron units are part of the iron-steel sector which is seen as a hard-to-abate in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and decarbonisation process. The iron-steel sector is an important contributor to the economic development of the state. Therefore, decarbonising the sponge-iron segment is crucial for the improvement of resource efficiency in the sector. In the wake of the net-zero scenario, the industry needs to shift from traditional carbon intensive technologies for iron & steel production to sustainability based and low-carbon environment friendly technologies. The decarbonisation strategies and pathways will contribute to the larger goal of sustainable energy transition in the state.’

India is one of the largest producers of sponge-iron in the world producing around 22 million tonne sponge iron. Jharkhand is one of the leading states in terms of presence of stone-iron units, which are broadly represented under the small and medium enterprises. These units largely rely on fossil fuels for operationalisation of rotary kilns and other production related activities. The sector itself is heterogeneous and uses a wide range of equipment with often dated and inefficient technology.

Emphasising the need of sector-specific interventions, Mr Ramapati Kumar, CEO of CEED said, ‘The sectoral analysis is important to understand the existing challenges, assessing the capabilities and creating pathways. The transition to green steel production requires a convergence approach from governments, industry, financial institutions and technology demonstrators for ensuring sustainable industrial development. A pathway can assist in the phase out of older polluting facilities and bring support for the deployment of new low-carbon emissions plants for production of green steel, which will lead towards sustainable energy transition in the state.’

The technical session discussed the key solutions through engagement of experts and industry representatives. The key ideas that presented were; establishing pilot and demonstration plants to test emerging low-carbon, increasing usage of energy efficient technologies, switching over to cleaner fuels like solar, recycling of steel scrap, infrastructure support for carbon, capture, utilisation & storage and green hydrogen ecosystem, capacity building measures and provision of finance to switchover to new fuels and technologies in the sector.

The consultation was attended by the leading sponge-iron units from private sectors, MSME associations, think-tanks and clean energy solutions providers from the state. The consultation witnessed participation of senior officials of leading companies and units such as Tata Steel, Tata Power, Rungta Mines, Aadhunik Steel, Nellanchal Ispat, Narsingh Ispat, Bihar Sponge & Iron, Sidhi-Vinayak Stone, Balaji Sponge Ltd, Shah Sponge & Power Ltd. DD international & Steel, and Corporate Ispat Alloy Ltd, etc.