Lok Sabha Question No. 405 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Coal Gasification Plants
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Feroze Varun Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO 405 ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## Coal Gasification Plants

## *405. SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI :

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

- a. whether the Government has established new Coal Gasification Plants and if so, the details thereof;
- b. whether  the  Government  is  thinking  of  using  any  new  technologies  for  Coal Gasification and Liquefaction and if so, the details thereof;
- c. whether the Government is aware of the challenges to the environment due to Coal Gasification and Liquefaction;
- d. if so, the steps taken to mitigate these hazardous outcomes; and
- e. whether the Government aims for 100 million tonnes (MT) coal gasification by 2030 and if so, the steps taken by the Government to achieve the set target?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  parts  (a)  to  (e)  in  respect  of  Lok  Sabha  Starred Question No. 405 for reply on 24.03.2021 asked by  Shri Feroze Varun Gandhi.

(a) : With a view to establish Coal Gasification Plants, Coal India Limited (CIL) is taking up several projects which are under different stages of execution. The details of these projects are given below:

(i)  Coal  to  Urea  Project  at  Talcher  (Odisha)  through  Talcher  Fertilizers  Limited (TFL),  a  Joint  Venture  company  of  CIL,  GAIL,  Rashtriya  Chemicals  &  Fertilizers (RCF)  and  The  Fertilizer  Corporation  of  India  Limited(FCIL)-  Tendering  activities completed. Currently under construction stage - Commissioning expected in FY 2024-

25. (ii) Coal-to-Methanol Project at Dankuni Coal Complex (DCC), near Kolkata (W.B.) -Feasibility  Studies  completed.  Currently  under  tendering  stage-  Commissioning expected in FY 2025-26.

(b) :   Coal  Gasification  and  Liquifaction  projects  are  implemented  with  proven  commercial state-of-the-art technologies.

(c)&(d): Government is aware of the challenges to the environment due to Coal Gasification and Liquefaction. Hence,  Environment clearance will be obtained for which Environmental Impact Assessment will be conducted and Environment Management Plan will be prepared before  start  of  the  project  and  all  precautionary  measures  will  be  taken  as  mandated  in environmental clearance granted by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change.

(e) :  The  implementation  of  Surface  Coal  Gasification  initiatives  is  aimed  to  enhance utilization of coal reserves.  It is envisaged that coal shall be gasified for production of Syngas which can  be subsequently converted into fertilizers,  liquid  fuels,  industrial  chemicals, etc.  In  order  to  achieve  gasification  of  100  MT  of  coal  by  2030,  Ministry  of  Coal  has formulated a policy wherein, a provision has been made for 20% rebate in revenue share for all future commercial coal block auctions for the coal used for gasification purpose provided the  coal  quantity  used  for  gasification  is  at  least  10%  of  total  coal  production.  Further, Steering Committee under the Chairmanship of Member, NITI Aayog has been constituted to oversee the program and taking policy decisions and implementation committee involving all industry  stake  holders  under  the  chairmanship  of  Additional  Secretary,  Ministry  of  Coal  to take up and monitor progress of such projects.

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