Proposed new mines: Adani’s plan to double coal mining

The Adani Group proposes to more than double its coal-mining output. The 16 proposed new coal mines in the pipeline have coal reserves of over 5.2 billion tonnes. From these mines, the Adani Group proposes to extract well over 78 million tonnes of coal every year, more than its current output of 68 million tonnes. (This is an underestimate, since the Adani Group has not disclosed the anticipated extraction rates for four of its proposed mines.) Establishment of these mines would involve clearing over 153 square km of forest. While some details of these new projects have been individually reported in the media, the Group has not reported cumulative figures. See Table 1 for details.

Most of these coal projects depend on acquisition of land from local landowners (mostly farmers). Local consent and tie-up financing are also requirements that, in many cases, are pending. But if the past is anything to go by, most of Adani’s proposed coal mines are likely to be approved.

In total – proposed plus existing coal mines

The existing coal mines operated and/or owned by Adani companies plus those proposed come to 22 individual coal-mining projects with over 7.6 billion tonnes of coal. They cover over 89,000 ha of land, including over 18,000 ha of forest (or what was forest before excavation commenced). AdaniWatch has used estimates of mineable reserves wherever these have been disclosed, otherwise we have used the geological reserve estimates, which are generally higher.

Adani’s coal-mining businesses and climate change

The proposals demonstrate the Adani Group’s optimism about the future of coal mining, particularly in India. Even as climate change forces the world to move away from coal, Adani companies are more than doubling their coal output. In published Q&A sessions with investment analysts, company officials have been very bullish about the prospects of coal. If the Group’s plans come to fruition, Adani’s carbon footprint will grow massively, making it harder to accept its claim that it is moving towards greener forms of energy.

Indeed, the Group’s proposals sharply contrast with its publicity blitzkrieg showcasing its renewable-energy projects. By contrast, Adani’s coal-mining plans are significantly under-reported. The Adani Group’s coal-mining operations will clearly be a globally serious contributor to climate change in the coming decades.

In India, the Modi government has set itself the ambitious target of meeting 50% of the country’s energy requirements from renewable sources by the year 2030. The government has also committed to achieving net-zero emissions by the year 2070. However, in contrast to these policies, coal continues to contribute a very high proportion of the total electrical energy generated in India. According to a government website, as of July 2024, coal-power generation represented about 49% of India’s power-generation capacity.

The Adani Group’s coal-mining plans and local communities

On the ground, communities across central and eastern India have been experiencing the impacts of the Adani Group’s acquisition of their farmlands and forests for the past decade. The area covered by the Adani Group’s proposed new coal mines in India is 35,364 ha (over 353 square kilometres). Nearly half of this land is under forest cover (over 150 square kilometres of forest). See Table 1 for details.

The tentacles of the Adani Group’s colossal coal-mining businesses penetrate deep into the socio-economic fabric of local communities in Indian states such as Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. Indigenous people, farmers, scientists and other environmentalists are vocal critics of India’s expanding coal-mining sector and its impacts on farmland, forests, water resources, villages and the indigenous way of life.

Local communities in Chhattisgarh, particularly in the Parsa and Kente group of coal mines, have vehemently opposed Adani’s coal projects due to their encroachment upon their ancestral lands – the ecologically fragile Hasdeo forests. Tribal groups have persistently protested against the loss and fragmentation of forestland, highlighting threats to their livelihoods and an elephant habitat. The election of a BJP government committed to coal exploitation in Chhattisgarh at the end of 2023 led to a resumption of operations to expand the operational Parsa Kente East Basan (PEKB) coal mine.

In another part of Chhattisgarh, the Pelma group of mines has faced strong opposition from local communities due to concerns over environmental pollution from existing mines and thermal power projects, and lack of transparency in land acquisition. The nullification of environmental clearance for the Gare Pelma II coal project in January 2024 by India’s premier environment court, the National Green Tribunal, validated the grievances raised by the communities.

Similarly, in the Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh, the Suliyari coal project has drawn criticism for its adverse impacts on water bodies, natural vegetation and settlements along transport routes. The existence of tribal communities, such as the Baigas, a particularly vulnerable tribe which has been dependent on forest resources in the Singrauli coalfields for generations, is threatened by the ecological disruptions caused by the Adani Group’s cluster of coal-mining projects in the region.

In Odisha, the Talabira mines have provoked community anger over inadequate compensation for displaced communities and pollution caused by the trucking of coal on local roads. Similarly, the proposed Bijahan mine faces opposition from local communities over land acquisition and environmental degradation, prompting legal challenges and directives from the courts to the state government to reconsider aspects of the mines’ approvals.

In Jharkhand, the ‘Gondulpara’ project (misnamed after the village Gondalpura) has encountered strong resistance within affected villages, with support from India’s federation of civil-society groups, the National Alliance for Peoples’ Movements. Attempts by government officials to initiate preparatory works for the coal project were met with fierce opposition, highlighting the determination of local communities to protect their land and livelihoods.

In Maharashtra, the Gondkhairi project has sparked outrage due to the likely impacts of its proposed underground mining operations on water tables and therefore agriculture. Protests caused the premature termination of a public hearing regarding the proposed mine, underscoring the discontent among local communities over the project’s environmental implications.

Overall, these episodes reflect a widespread and persistent resistance against Adani’s coal projects, driven by concerns for environmental conservation, livelihood protection, community well-being and the rights of indigenous peoples.

Local impacts and community responses in detail

INDIA

 CHHATTISGARH

 Parsa and Kente group mine and projects

• Local communities have fiercely opposed development of the PEKB (operational), Kente Extension (proposed) and Parsa (proposed) blocks in the biodiversity-rich Hasdeo forests.
• Tribal communities oppose the loss and fragmentation of forest as it will affect their livelihoods and threaten elephant habitat, exacerbating dangerous conflicts between displaced elephants and local people.
• Protests by local communities have occurred for several years, including a 300-km-long march from the forests to Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur in October 2021.
• In 2022, communities successfully took peaceful direct action against the expansion of the PEKB coal mine.
• Following the election of a BJP government in Chhattisgarh in November 2023, tree-felling resumed in the area proposed for expansion of the PEKB mine, leading to more protests.
• The local communities have won the support of national Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
• Local campaigner Alok Shukla was awarded the prestigious Goldman Environment Prize in April 2024 for his work working with communities to defend the Hasdeo forests.

 Pelma mines and projects

• Owing to the high levels of environmental pollution from existing coal projects, local communities are opposed to development of the Pelma and Gare Pelma II coal blocks.
• In September 2023, local communities staged huge protests citing issues of lack of transparency in land takeover for the Pelma project.

• Locals have alleged consent of Gram Sabhas was acquired fraudulently for the Pelma project.
• Local communities allege environmental approval was granted to the Gare Pelma II project despite protests at the public hearing.
• Based on a petition by members of local communities, the National Green Tribunal nullified the environmental approval granted to the Gare Pelma II coal project in January 2024.

Purunga

• According to a 2023-24 annual report of Adani Enterprises, details regarding exploitation of the Purunga coal block have yet to be determined, with development not expected to commence until after 2025.

MADHYA PRADESH

 Suliyari and Dhirauli coal mines and projects

• Local communities have objected to several aspects of the Suliyari coal project, whose environmental approval was allegedly rushed through after an intervention by the Modi government. Objections pertain to the diversion of streams and inadequate or unpaid compensation for compulsorily acquired lands.

• Trucking of coal from the Suliyari coal mine on public roads has degraded natural vegetation, crops, settlements and markets.
• Concerns have been raised over possible cumulative adverse impacts on the environment from the cluster of Adani coal projects in Singrauli: Dhirauli, Mara II Mahan, Gondbahera Ujheni East and Gondbahera Ujheni. This cluster of mines is beneath forest that is home to wildlife, including elephants and leopards.
• Numerous tribal communities – such as the Baigas, designated a ‘Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group’ – are dependent on forests slated for destruction for these coal-mining projects.

 ODISHA

 Talabira mine and projects

• Some villagers will be displaced for a third time – first by a large dam in the 1950s, then by one of the Talabira mines in the early 2000s, and now by the Adani-operated coal Talabira II and II coal project.

• Displaced people struggle to survive around the fringes of the Talabira II and III coal project in the absence of sufficient jobs in the mine or appropriate re-settlement facilities.
• In February 2022, the local police detained 13 members of a community leader’s family who were demanding higher compensation against loss of agricultural land. Police released them after mine works had been carried out.
• Transport of coal by road has polluted the local environment with coal dust, impacting residential areas, markets and crops. The deadline for transitioning to rail keeps being extended.
• Reckless disposal of waste from Talabira I has impacted local livelihoods and resulted in a fine imposed on the relevant Adani company by the National Green Tribunal.

Bijahan project

• This proposed coal mine has been criticised for being sited in a forested setting where local communities depend on the forests.
• Local people, apprehensive about takeover of their lands and the impacts of environmental pollution, filed a petition in the Odisha High Court, which directed the state government to consider their concerns.

JHARKHAND

‘Gondulpara’ project

• Local communities from five affected villages have fiercely resisted the Adani Group’s attempts to commence preparatory works for development of this project, with protests including a rowdy motorbike rally.
• In September 2021, government officials attempting to demarcate boundaries for the project were forced to retreat after facing opposition from angry villagers.
• An umbrella organisation of Indian indigenous groups, the National Alliance for Peoples’ Movements, has lent its support to local communities opposing the project.

MAHARASHTRA

Gondkhairi project

• Local communities have opposed this project in the water-starved Vidarbha region due to the likely impacts of underground mining on water resources. Attempts by authorities to secure local support for the mine through public meetings have failed.

Northwest of Madheri project

• According to a 2023-24 annual report of Adani Enterprises, details regarding exploitation of the ‘Northwest of Madheri’ coal block have yet to be determined, with operations not expected to commence until after 2025. In the allotment of Northwest of Madheri to the Adani Group, the only other bidder was Cavill Mining, whose owner is also the main promoter of Adicorp Enterprises, a small privately-held company that Hindenburg Researchalleged was used to channel funds between Adani companies to avoid mandatory related-party disclosures. Cavill Mining has paid-up capital of only Rs 1 lakh (US $1200) and does not have any prior mining experience.

AUSTRALIA

QUEENSLAND

Carmichael coal mine

• The proposed Carmichael mine of Adani drew opposition from around Australia and internationally due to its inevitable impacts on the Earth’s climate, the Great Barrier Reef, threatened species and the lands of indigenous people.
• Adani was forced to reduce the size of the mine from 60 million tonnes per annum to 10 million tonnes per annum.
• The impact of the campaign on Adani’s brand forced the Group to change the names of the Carmichael mining company (to ‘Bravus’) and the Adani port company shipping the coal (to North Queensland Export Terminal).
• Members of the Wangan and Jagalingou tribes have protested continuously against the establishment of the mine.
• Scientists have expressed concern about the impact of the Carmichael mine’s large excavations on the Doongmabulla Springs, important for local habitat conservation and a sacred site for the indigenous owners.
• The Adani company has attempted to quash parts of the campaign through an ‘attack dog legal strategy’ that has seen a climate campaigner face protracted court proceedings that have been described as ‘creepy and abhorrent’.

INDONESIA

NORTH KALIMANTAN

Bunyu

• Adani’s huge coal mine on the small island of Bunyu has adversely impacted the lives and livelihood of a local people known as Tidung.
• The impacts of Adani’s Bunyu coal mine have been described in more detail in a report by Indonesian NGO Jatam.
• Production of rice and salak (a tropical fruit) has dropped significantly after mining operations commenced on the island. The fishing industry has been hit due to movement of coal-carrying barges in the sea. Local rivers have been polluted by the mine; rainforests have been cleared for the mine; fugitive emissions of coal dust have polluted domestic water supplies.
• An Indonesian environment group, WALHI, has issued several statements since 2007 asserting that protected forests have been encroached upon by mining companies, including the Adani company, which could have long-term negative ecological consequences. It has also said that the adverse impacts of coal mining could render Bunyu a ‘dead island’.