Lok Sabha Question No. 3519 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-02
Subject: Status of Underground Coal Gasification Technology
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3519 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.01.2019

## Status of Underground Coal Gasification technology

## 3519.   SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA:

Will the MINISTER OF COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) The present status of Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) Technology developed in the country for meeting the future energy needs;
- (b) The details of coal and lignite blocks identified, so far, for this purpose; and
- (c) The  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  popularize  this technology in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a): No  commercial  or  pilot  scale  project  of  Underground  Coal  Gasification  (UCG) technology has been commissioned as yet under Indian Geological conditions.
- (b): Total  of  14  blocks  (7  Coal  and  7  Lignite)  has  been  identified  which  are  under consideration  of  Inter  Ministerial  Committee  (IMC)  which  has  been  constituted  for  the purpose of UCG development in India.

Following are the Details:

| Details of UCG Blocks        | Details of UCG Blocks               |
|------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| Block Name                   | Coal/Lignite field/State            |
| Coal Blocks                  |                                     |
| 1Yellandu (Dip Side)         | Khammam, Andhra Pradesh             |
| 2Bandha                      | Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh           |
| 3Maiki North-Maiki-Markhi    | Sohagpur, Madhya Pradesh            |
| 4Pathora                     | Sohagpur, Madhya Pradesh            |
| 5Reonti West                 | Tatapani-Ramkola, Chhattisgarh      |
| 6Chainpa                     | Sohagpur, Madhya Pradesh            |
| 7Jogapur Sirsi               | Wardha Valley, Maharashtra          |
| Lignite Block                |                                     |
| 1Raneri                      | Bikaner, Rajasthan                  |
| 2Tadkeshwar-Dungra           | Surat, Gujarat                      |
| 3Dip Side of Valia &Rajpardi | Bharuch, Gujarat                    |
| 4Sindhari West               | Barmer, Rajasthan                   |
| 5Chokla North                | Barmer, Rajasthan                   |
| 6Nimbalkot 7Nagurda          | Barmer, Rajasthan Barmer, Rajasthan |

(c): In order to develop UCG in India, the following steps were taken by Government

1. The  Government  issued  a  Gazette  Notification  in  July,  2007  wherein  UCG  was considered as an end use for the purpose of Coal Mines Nationalization Act, 1973.
2. The Govt. has approved the policy framework for development of UCG in coal and lignite bearing areas in India on 16 th Dec.2015.
3. In order to identify the areas to be offered, deciding about blocks to be put to bidding or  allocation  to  PSUs  on  nomination  basis,  proposing  the  mechanism  for  bidding process  and  other  related  matters,  an  Inter-Ministerial  Committee  (IMC)  has  been constituted under the chairmanship of Additional Secretary, Ministry  of  Coal. The IMC has submitted its report relating to bid document and Model contract document.

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