Lok Sabha Question No. 2495 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-16
Subject: Production of Oil and Gas from Coal by CIL
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, BHARATENDRA SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2495 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2017

## Production of Oil and Gas from Coal by CIL

## 2495.   SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE :

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

KUNWAR BHARATENDRA :

Will the MINISTER OF COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Coal India Limited (CIL) is contemplating a major diversification initiative to produce oil and gas from its coal in a big way;
- (b)  if so, the details and the objective thereof;
- (c) whether the CIL also plans to enter into commercial production of coal bed methane and to  expand its presence in the thermal and solar power generation and if so, the details thereof and the timeframe for the same; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the  core  activity  of  CIL  which  is declining?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, POWER,  NEW  AND  RENEWABLE  ENERGY  AND  MINES  (SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)&  (b): Coal  India  Limited  (CIL)  is  exploring  the  technical  possibilities  for  cleaner utilization  of  coal.      In  this  direction,  an  Expression  of  Interest  (EOI)  has  been  floated  on 28.02.2017  for  inviting  offers  for  Pre-Qualification  of  Licensors  of  Coal  Gasification Technology  for  Setting  up  of  Coal  to  Methanol  Plant  in  the  premises  of  Dankuni  Coal Complex, West Bengal.
- (c): Under  the  CBM  policy,  Oil  &  Natural  Gas  Corporation  (ONGC)  and  CIL  are  joint partners  in  developing  Jharia  Coal  Bed  Methane  (CBM)  block  and  Raniganj  North  CBM block.  These CBM blocks were given to the consortium of CIL and ONGC on nomination basis by the Government.  Both the blocks have entered into development phase.

Further,  Government  has  permitted  CIL  and  its  subsidiary  companies  to  take  up exploration and exploitation of Coal Bed Methane on commercial lines from the coal bearing areas  for  which  they  possess  mining  lease  for  coal.    Under  this  arrangement  CIL  has identified  two  areas  one  each  in  Raniganj  coal  field  and  Jharia  coalfield  for  extraction  of CBM from the existing mining leases.  Gas assessment from these areas is under study.  On completion of the relevant studies and other statutory clearances, these blocks are expected to commence production in 2020-21.

Regarding plan for  solar power generation, CIL has entered into an MoU with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for developing 1000 MW solar photovoltaic projects.  Initially, it is proposed to develop 2x100 MW solar photovoltaic project in the State of Madhya Pradesh and the power generated will be used for captive purposes.

(d): The core activity of CIL is to produce and market the planned quantity of coal to provide energy security to the country. Production and Off-take of coal of CIL in the last three years is  given  in  the  Table  below,  which  shows  that  there  has  been  continuous  increase  in  coal production and off-take.

| Year     |   Production (MT) |   Off-take (MT) |
|----------|-------------------|-----------------|
| 2013-14  |            462.42 |          471.58 |
| 2014-15  |            494.24 |          489.38 |
| 20 15-16 |            538.75 |          534.49 |

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