‘Coal gasification to be a game-changer, driving self-reliance, clean energy’ Business News & Hub

Coal will remain vital, and through gasification it would provide environmentally responsible energy to the country, said Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal. She was addressing a Roadshow on Coal Gasification – Surface and Underground Technologies organised by the Ministry of Coal in partnership with FICCI in Mumbai on Friday.

“The Ministry is committed to building a robust ecosystem through the government’s ₹8,500 crore Coal Gasification Incentive Scheme, investor-friendly policies, and streamlined clearances, emphasising the Ministry’s focus on building a robust ecosystem for sustainable mining and energy security,” she added. 

“India’s coal story is unprecedented; we crossed 1 billion tonnes of domestic production for the first time last year. With nearly 400 billion tonnes of reserves, including 40% that lies deep and untapped, technologies like coal gasification will ensure this resource drives growth while keeping sustainability at the core,” she said. 

“This is testament to our growing energy security and self-reliance as we march towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy by 2028,” she added.

Stating that gasification allows India to tap unmineable coal and convert it into value-added products, cutting import dependence in oil, gas, fertilizers, and petrochemicals, she said with policy support and financial backing, government was making coal gasification a scalable, responsible solution. 

“As India moves from the fourth to the third-largest economy by 2028, gasification will be a game-changer, driving self-reliance, clean energy, and new industries,” she added. 

Tuhin Mukherjee, Mentor, FICCI Mining Committee, while speaking at the event said, “Coal remains the world’s main source of power, providing a quarter of our primary energy and more than 40% of our electricity, and through gasification it can be harnessed in a cleaner, more transformative way.” 

He added, “With abundant reserves of over 389 billion tonnes, coal gasification offers India a pathway to reduce import dependence, produce methanol, fertilizers, and clean fuels, and move towards self-reliance while ensuring sustainable utilisation of our resources.”

The roadshow witnessed participation from senior government officials, industry leaders, investors, and stakeholders from the chemical, petrochemical, oil & gas, steel, aluminium, power, coal, and allied sectors. 

It provided a platform to discuss India’s coal gasification roadmap, opportunities for private sector participation, indigenous technology development, and policy provisions to enable the country to achieve its target of 100 million tonnes of coal gasification by 2030.