Coal India Limited or CIL — the world’s largest coal mining company and one of India’s most influential state-owned enterprises — is now 50 years old. Established to secure the India’s energy needs, Coal India has long been the backbone of India’s industrial and power sectors. But as the country moves toward its net-zero by 2070 goal, the company is now undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history.From being the guardian of India’s coal reserves, Coal India is venturing into new frontiers — investing in critical minerals, solar energy, and coal gasification — signalling a bold pivot toward a cleaner, more diversified energy future.In this episode of The India Energy Hour, we speak with P.M. Prasad, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Coal India Limited, who reflects on his four-decade journey within the company and shares insights into its evolution, challenges, and vision for the future. Mr. Prasad discusses the founding mission of Coal India, its major milestones, and how the company plans to redefine itself in a decarbonising world.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRAvVJgXTsHBJ1RLUtPljwIo3USBrtixPHyKN8sBmnwuSuQEKNKVAcOMLaVjDNQnyfUUFZdDjSakBhZ/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>.P.M. Prasad is on <a href='https://x.com/RealPMPrasad1'>Twitter</a>.Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>.Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>.

He is an award-winning journalist and researcher and author of a book “Total Transition: The Human Side of the Renewable Energy Revolution.”

Sandeep Pai

Shreya Jai is India's leading writer on the energy sector. A journalist for over 15 years, she is currently Energy Lead at Climate Trends.

Shreya Jai

From the Depths to Decarbonization: Coal India’s 50-Year Story | ft. P.M. Prasad

Since the dawn of the Electricity Act, 2003, India's power transmission sector has undergone a transformation during the last two decades. The gates of the sector were open for the private sector, which brought with it investment and innovation. While the private sector continued to face the challenge of competing with an almost monopolistic government organisation, it has been able to grab a sizeable share while also bringing the cost down.And just like any other part of the electricity supply chain in the country, the power transmission sector also stands at the cusp of another transformation with the advent of large-scale renewable energy and new energy solutions.To understand the growth of the country's power transmission sector and what its focus areas are and how it is evolving along with the ever-changing landscape of the power sector, we talked with Pratik Agarwal, managing director of Sterlite Electric and chairman of Resonia. Agarwal has been one of the early movers in the power transmission sector and has a diversified portfolio of businesses in power equipment, manufacturing, renewable energy generation, and allied businesses.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRNzA5OUP7SsS1-8l_ccHRXi0gCX0W8sHrMCPsyJHs9YSUPn0mKFIX6F3DuzN_JPZIwX4OliYyeRFI9/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>.Pratik Agarwal is on <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/pratik-agarwal-b6278b2/?originalSubdomain=in'>LinkedIn</a> and <a href='https://x.com/pagarwal1982'>Twitter</a>.Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>.Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>.

Wires, Transformers and Knights of the Grid | ft. Pratik Agarwal

Solving the climate crisis—whether by scaling renewable energy or phasing down fossil fuels—requires rigorous, science-based policy that delivers win-win solutions for stakeholders.In this episode, Dr. Jai Asundi, Executive Director of the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), shares how to navigate India’s complex energy and climate policy landscape to ensure research doesn’t just sit on shelves, but actively shapes decisions for a sustainable future.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRfqm2MColXZL7rTnQooNFDsS2P0v0mL_cYQ6sGxB-pv0s3BFd8O0WUojMjllKU3kEwiwm8eO6r6Ii3/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>.Jai Asundi is on <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaiasundi/'>LinkedIn</a> and <a href='https://x.com/JaiAsundi'>Twitter</a>.Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>.Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>.

From Labs to Laws: How Science Can Shape India’s Climate Future | ft. Dr. Jai Asundi

If there is one common issue that all electricity reforms face in India it is the state of power distribution segment. State owned power distribution companies (discoms) while being marred with financial and operational inefficiencies also plague the rest of the electricity supply chain. Multiple bailout packages and reform schemes have moved the needle of improvement only so much.So what will it take to revive the discoms and fix the forever leaking pipe?To understand this and the transformation that the distribution sector is undergoing, we talked with Alok Kumar. Kumar was former secretary, union ministry of power. An IAS officer, Kumar has held notable positions at state level and in the central government. He is currently director general, All India Discoms Association (AIDA), a newly formed body to further better policies for power distribution sector.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRKe9w9mOnl9Epk_vznB_p3xoJgBs98EiJvaIzzUlqWSuuMk9aQeTQgLG7FXktV2LQjoKjIDJzXIeIj/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>.Girish Sethi is on <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/alok-kumar-09769585/'>LinkedIn</a>.Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>.Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>.

The leaking pipe: Fixing India's Discoms | ft. Alok Kumar

As India moves to reduce its coal dependence and reach its climate goals, the spotlight is turning to hard-to-abate sectors that are both energy-intensive and vital to economic growth. What would a realistic transition look like for these industries? And how can finance, policy, and innovation come together to drive change?In this episode, we speak with Girish Sethi, Senior Director of the Energy Program at The Energy and Resources Institute or TERI to unpack one of the toughest challenges in India's clean energy journey — decarbonizing the steel and cement sectors.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSQiAhHd1fp7_FyZ2WG_pnI2CDHfMOlErlqUnBVTntD2njYjKRjPV52AHi4gQp2Um1a1GLuN38g5d--/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>.Girish Sethi is on <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/girish-sethi-6ba9b941/'>LinkedIn</a>.Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>.Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>.

Hard to Abate, Harder to Ignore: Decarbonizing India’s Heavy Industry | ft. Girish Sethi

The evolution of India’s electricity grid reflects the ever-changing dynamics of the country’s economic and infrastructure growth. Built as a backbone to coal-based power, the grid is now upgrading itself to handle green electricity, give space to energy storage and be flexible to fluctuating demand-supply scenarios.The India Energy Hour brings a special series on the progress of the grid in India, how far it has come in last the 78 years and what the future looks like as we aim to be a net carbon zero economy in the next two decades. From policy to technology, the series scans all aspects of the country’s electricity grid.In the second part, we spoke with tech-entrepreneur Vishal Pandya, co-founder, REConnect Energy, a Bengaluru based digital energy platform. REConnect builds AI and grid automation software products for energy utilities, and provides tech solutions for electricity market products and renewable energy management.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQBvwZ1llf2XxpSpOLZbiwZu85sLqD8u1y4JoCcn_2rm_MZFNhfVEUd4Fm3m0y4qvZzPuvdm2WJz8DH/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>Vishal Pandya is on <a href='https://x.com/vishalhpandya'>Twitter</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetvishalpandya/'>LinkedIn</a>Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>

Transformation of India’s Power Grid. Part 2: A New Era beckons | ft. Vishal Pandya

The evolution of India’s electricity grid reflects the ever-changing dynamics of the country’s economic and infrastructure growth. Built as a backbone to coal-based power, the grid is now upgrading itself to handle green electricity, give space to energy storage and be flexible to fluctuating demand-supply scenarios.The India Energy Hour brings a special series on the progress of the grid in India, how far it has come in last the 78 years and what the future looks like as we aim to be a net carbon zero economy in the next two decades. From policy to technology, the series scans all aspects of the country’s electricity grid.In the first part, we spoke with a man synonymous with the grid’s evolution – S K Soonee – first CEO of the Power System Operation Corporation (now Grid India), country’s central power grid operator. Soonee was at the helm of creation of Grid India, key development milestones and policy-altering incidents.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vT1vbtvBXc1vkou4CTAYeWmgtgUISw_jRsXeWagE2OXiYQM_i8C5-G3yNMtV-pIYPKycHJk14TGoho8/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>S K Soonee is on <a href='https://x.com/sksoonee'>Twitter</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/soonee/?originalSubdomain=in'>LinkedIn</a>Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>

Transformation of India’s Power Grid.Part 1: The Building Blocks | ft. S K Soonee

The oil and gas sector in India has been a story of evolution from once private entities turning into nationalised companies and then again the entry of private sector in 1990s. Initially, the upstream oil exploration sector witnessed a lot of private investment but then it slowed down. The downstream oil sector simultaneously saw a variety of social schemes, billions of government funds, and private investment from marquee names. The natural gas sector, on the other hand, is a story where import dependence has only increased over the years, making the supply to key sectors, like power generation difficult, since imported gas price cannot match the cost advantage of coal. At the same time, India is aspiring to be a gas-based economy. Mega scale city gas distribution and piped gas network expansion is also under works. In the middle of this, ethanol blending programme for petrol has taken off well. Simultaneously, a pilot project on green hydrogen blending with natural gas has also started in Madhya Pradesh.To unwrap the past, present and what could be the future policies and plans for India’s oil and gas sector, we talked with Jyoti Mukul, a seasoned energy infrastructure writer. Ms Mukul was a journalist for nearly three decades and has followed milestone developments of the country’s energy security and transition efforts. She is a well-known policy analyst for energy and infrastructure sectors and her first book ‘The Great Shutdown: A story of two Indian Summers’, highlighting the infrastructure challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, came out in 2022.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSKh9YtohNaXZsWsQAkHLgjTR2yRSDEC3sSKqNu1ERDUEthUxwGvY_H_UsV-FFZ9IK-ospr9NGV9edp/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>Jyoti Mukul is on <a href='https://x.com/mukuljyoti?lang=en'>Twitter</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyoti-mukul-08483743/?originalSubdomain=in'>LinkedIn</a>Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>

Slips and Hits of India’s Oil & Gas Story | ft. Jyoti Mukul

As the impacts of climate change intensify and clean energy deployment becomes crucial, energy and climate diplomacy have emerged as powerful tools to drive international cooperation and unlock finance, technology, and ambition. From global summits like COP, G7, and G20, to bilateral and multilateral partnerships, countries are negotiating entire frameworks for energy access, green industrial growth, and just transitions.But how does climate diplomacy actually work? What are the real levers for influencing outcomes in a fragmented, multipolar world? And once big declarations are made, how do we ensure follow-through and accountability on the ground?To unpack these questions, we speak with Madhura Joshi, Programme Lead - Asia Hub at E3G. Madhura is an expert in international energy and climate negotiations.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRAarUv4-yBIHlt3y04_bYVR2cmMWYP_fwdBwBkGAFMtj_JgxRtzbqDN09DowMzpDHdEFf0rGMmXdah/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>Madhura Joshi is on <a href='https://x.com/MadhuraJoshi23'>Twitter</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/madhura-joshi-b1b9a622/'>LinkedIn</a>Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>

From Declarations to Delivery: How Climate Diplomacy Works | ft.  Madhura Joshi

Like other peers, India has increasingly started focusing on securing critical minerals for its energy and industrial sectors. From lithium and cobalt to rare earth elements, these minerals are essential for clean technologies like batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines. As the world races to secure these resources, India is looking to position itself strategically. But, how big is India’s mining sector today, and how much could it grow in response to rising global demand? Can India realistically find its space when China and the West are in a geopolitical race for critical minerals? What does India’s evolving critical minerals policy look like, and who are the major players – especially state-owned enterprises?.To help us unpack these questions, we speak with Abhinav Sengupta, energy and mining expert who brings deep insights into India’s policy and industrial strategy around critical minerals.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRz9FA6Ebl7M_xBZZnb4khlWW8eBIreMRPt1CQ6zzkUzxfw-akeWdVZTtFDwyhmZI-Cs1z7Ci3OHrVG/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>Abhinav Sengupta is on <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhinavsengupta85/'>LinkedIn</a>Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>

From Mines to Markets: Unpacking India’s Critical Mineral Strategy | ft. Abhinav Sengupta

The 10th episode is hosted by Mayank Aggarwal, Contributing Editor, Mongabay India. Mayank is one of the best writers on environment and climate change in India, whose work has been a trailblazer.Mayank will interview co-host & co-founder of The India Energy Hour, Sandeep Pai on his recently published dissertation on Just Transition and talk about the unique datasets that Sandeep used, and the ground work he did to underline the challenges of jumping from fossil fuel to clean energy in developing economies.Suggested Readings: 1. <a href='https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0398719' target='_blank'>https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0398719</a> 2. <a href='https://india.mongabay.com/by/mayank-aggarwal/' target='_blank'>https://india.mongabay.com/by/mayank-aggarwal/</a> 3. <a href='https://india.mongabay.com/series/just-transitions/'>https://india.mongabay.com/series/just-transitions/</a>

Fossil fuels to Renewables: Are countries planning a Just Transition?

A multimedia journalist with 101Reporters and producer of THE INDIA ENERGY HOUR podcast.

Tejas Dayananda Sagar

Manas Mishra, is a multimedia expert and sound engineer with 101Reporters.