On August 23, 2025, iFOREST hosted a conference on ‘Just Transition of Dhanbad & Jharkhand’s Green Energy Future’ in Ranchi. The conference marked the release of iFOREST’s three research reports, which showed that: 

• Jharkhand’s coal mines are grappling with resource exhaustion and declining profitability, making the shift to a just transition urgent.

• The state holds immense potential for renewable energy. An iFOREST assessment shows that Jharkhand could generate up to 77.5 GW of renewable energy, including 15 GW from wind and 3 GW from biomass alone.

• The Damodar Valley region, currently a hub for coal mining, has the infrastructure and natural resources to evolve into a hub for green        industries such as green hydrogen and green steel. This transformation could drive sustainable growth, create new employment opportunities, and ensure a just transition for workers and communities.

With the potential closure of 67% of operational mines by 2030 in Dhanbad district and a good number of already-discontinued mines in the district, the conference underscored the urgent need for planning a just transition in the Dhanbad and surrounding regions. It highlighted the need for anchoring such planning with a focus on green investments to diversify the local economy and generate new employment opportunities. The need for workforce transition and workforce development, improvement in social infrastructure and services, particularly in rural areas, and for low-income groups, has also been highlighted. Re-developing the traditional Dhanbad–Bokaro–Ramgarh industrial belt as a corridor of green energy and green industries has also emerged as a key takeaway.

The event brought together state and district officials, industry leaders, civil society members, academic experts, and workers’ representatives for spirited discussions. Key speakers included Smt. Mahua Maji (Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha), Shri Aboobacker Siddique P, IAS (Secretary, Department of Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Government of Jharkhand), Shri Ajay Kumar Rastogi (Chairperson, Taskforce for Sustainable Just Transition, Government of Jharkhand), Shri Jitendra Kumar Singh, IAS (Secretary, Department of Labour, Employment, Training & Skill Development, Government of Jharkhand), Shri S. Suresh Kumar, IAS (Chairman, Damodar Valley Corporation).