Lok Sabha Question No. 5657 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Coal Gasification
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 5657 ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## Coal Gasification

## 5657.     SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  Government  has  initiated  steps  to  execute  the  four  pilot  coal  gasification projects announced in Budget 2022-23;
- (b)      if  so,  the  details  of  the  four  projects,  including  location,  budget  allocation, source of coal, etc;
- (c)      the purposes for which coal gas thus produced will be used;
- (d)      whether the Government has undertaken any study to evaluate the CO2 emissions per unit of electricity produced through coal gas and if so, whether this is lower than the range of 0.91  to  0.95  kg/kWh  of  CO2  produced  by  coal-fired  thermal  power  plants  and  if  not,  the reasons for promoting coal gasification;
- (e)      whether the Government is aware of the Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) study that one unit of electricity generated by burning gasified coal generates 2.5 times more CO2 than direct burning of coal; and
- (f)      if  so,  the  effects  of  four  new  coal  gasification  projects  on  India's  coal  phase  down pledges made in COP26?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c): Government has initiated steps to execute the four pilot coal gasification projects announced  in  Budget  2022-23.  Details  of  the  four  projects,  including  location,  budget allocation, source of coal, etc, are as under-

|      | SubsidiaryLocation   | Mines         | Coal Requirement (MT)   | Coal Grade   | Product          | Capacity     |   Approx. Cost as per PFR (in Cr) | Status                            |
|------|----------------------|---------------|-------------------------|--------------|------------------|--------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| ECL  | BahadurpurSonepur    | Bazari Mine   | 1.35 MMTPA              | (G4-G5)      | Methanol         | (0.66 MMTPA) |                              7421 | Tenders invited                   |
| SECL | Bhatgaon Area        | Mahamaya Mine | 1.35 MMTPA              | (G4)         | Ammonia          | (0.72 MMTPA) |                              7816 | Tenders invited                   |
| WCL  | Juna Kunad           | Niljai Mine   | 0.8 MMTPA(G9-           | G10)         | Ammonium Nitrate | (0.66 MMTPA) |                              7893 | Tender document under preparation |

For execution of 4th pilot coal gasification projects, CIL & BHEL are jointly exploring a high ash coal (> 40%) based surface coal gasification project for production of ammonium nitrate using BHEL's indigenously developed technology. The location is under finalisation and the PFR is currently under preparation.

Gasification  of  coal  in  the  above  projects  would  result  in  production  of  Syngas  which  is further processed to produce different chemicals.

(d) & (e): As the above products, produced through goal gasification, will not be used for power generation, no such study has been undertaken. However, the scientific literature on coal gasification enumerate the following:

(i)   The  SOx  and  NOx  emission  is  lower  compared  to  regular  combustion  of  in  coal-fired boilers in thermal power plants;

(ii)   It  is  technically  amenable  for  CCUS  (Carbon  Capture,  Utilisation  and  Storage)  when gasification  is  done  using  pure  oxygen  compared  to  regular  combustion  using  atmospheric air; and,

(iii)   The  CO2  emission  foot  print  is  comparatively  lower  for  some  chemicals  produced through coal gasification route.

(f): Coal  gasification  projects  at  CIL  are  being  undertaken  to  promote  an  alternate  and comparatively  cleaner  use  of  coal.  These  projects  are  envisaged  as  pilot  projects  and  on achievement of techno-commercial viability, the projects would serve as foundation to further setting up of such plants and will thereby help in ensuring relevance of coal in view of the COP26 pledges.

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