Oskarsson, Patrik
- Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Research article2017Peer reviewed
Producing 'So-So' Infrastructure for National Energy Security at the North Karanpura Coalfields in Eastern India
Oskarsson, Patrik
Abstract
This paper examines transport infrastructure of only middling quality at a Jharkhand coalfield as supporting rather than preventing national energy security. The modest technical efficiency of the infrastructure emerges from a need to align the national provision of energy with a complex political ecology of coal in which various actors seek benefits from its 'safe' transport, supply coal to cottage industries and provide alternative livelihoods for the displaced. Unlike in Mitchell's Carbon Democracy, Jharkhand's 'so-so' coal infrastructure ensures delivery of coal by being dispersed and flexible, thereby allowing supply by avoiding blockades from influential groups close to the mines.
Keywords
Coal transport; energy security; infrastructure; Jharkhand; Maoists; materiality; political ecology
Published in
South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies
2017, volume: 40, number: 4, pages: 895-909
SLU Authors
Global goals (SDG)
SDG7 Affordable and clean energy
SDG9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
SDG16 Peace, justice and strong institutions
UKÄ Subject classification
Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00856401.2017.1375042
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/85226