Lok Sabha Question No. 2789 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Research on Clean Coal Technology
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2789

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

## RESEARCH ON CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGY

## 2789.   SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

(a) the details of financial or technical support is provided by the Government to researchers working on advanced coal beneficiation and clean coal technologies;

(b) whether there are any specific coal blocks allocated for research related to Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) or Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies;

(c) the manner in which the Government ensure that research conducted on unused coal blocks contributes to sustainable mining and environmental remediation;

(d) the steps taken by the Government to promote mine safety training and development of safety technologies using these unused coal blocks;

(e)  the  details  of  research  projects  focusing  on  mine  reclamation,  groundwater  impact  and ecosystem restoration in unused coal blocks;

(f)  the  details  of  data  and  findings  from  research  in  unused  coal  blocks  disseminated  to policymakers, industry stakeholders and the public; and

(g) whether there are any plans to increase the number of coal blocks available specifically for research to foster innovation in the coal sector/envision for unused coal blocks in balancing India's coal demands and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a):  The Government provides financial and technical support for research in advanced coal beneficiation and clean coal technologies through the following mechanisms:

(i) Science & Technology (S&T) scheme of Ministry of Coal Financial assistance is provided to research and academic institutions for projects in coal beneficiation, clean coal technologies, and environmental protection, etc. These projects are approved and monitored by the Standing Scientific Research Committee (SSRC).

(ii)    Research  and  Development  (R&D)  projects  of  Coal  PSUs  The  R&D  Boards  of coal  PSUs support projects aimed at developing and optimizing coal processing technologies, with  emphasis  on  low-grade  coal  utilization  and  dry  beneficiation.  Key  participating institutions include IITs, CSIR laboratories and CMPDI.

These initiatives are aimed at promoting sustainable coal utilization and fostering indigenous technological advancements.

Government  of  India  has  launched  a  scheme  for  promotion  of  Coal/Lignite  Gasification projects of Government PSUs and Private sector with an outlay of Rs. 8500 crores, which also includes projects for R&D.

Government has also introduced new measures to support coal gasification projects  which includes a new sub-sector under the NRS linkage auctions policy focused on "Production of Syngas leading to coal gasification". Additionally, a 50% rebate on the revenue share for coal used in gasification is available in commercial coal block auctions, provided that at least 10% of the coal is used for gasification.

(b): A Pilot Project on Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) to establish technology in Indian  Geo-mining  condition"  is  being  implemented  by  CMPDI,  ECL  and  Ergo  Exergy Technology Inc (EETI), Canada jointly at the Kasta coal mine (Eastern Coalfields Limited) in Jamtara District, Jharkhand.

(c): At present, no unused coal block has been allocated for research purposes by Government. However, researches are being done by coal companies on active coal blocks. Further, CIL is conducting R&D work on underground coal gasification in abandoned coal mine of ECL.

(d) to (f): Do not arise in view of reply to part (c) above.

(g): At present, there is no plan to allocate coal blocks specifically for research purposes.

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