New Delhi: Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy has laid the foundation stone for two private-sector coal gasification projects in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district, the minister said in a post on X. The projects, being developed by Greta Energy and Metal Private Limited and New Era Cleantech Solution Pvt Ltd, will come up in the Bhadrawati Industrial Area and are among the first initiatives under the government’s coal gasification incentive scheme.
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Reddy said the projects signal progress in implementing the government’s coal gasification programme. “The vision laid out for Coal Gasification is coming to fruition,” he said in the post, adding that he performed the bhoomi poojan (ground-breaking ceremony) for the projects along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
According to the Ministry of Coal, the two projects are among seven selected for financial incentives under the government’s coal gasification promotion scheme. Greta Energy and Metal Private Limited is setting up a coal gasification project for Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) production. New Era Cleantech Solution Pvt Ltd is establishing a coal gasification project for the production of ammonium nitrate and hydrogen.
The government launched a financial incentive scheme worth Rs 8,500 crore in January 2024 to promote coal gasification projects in the country.
The projects are part of the Coal Gasification Mission launched in 2020, which aims to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030. In his post on X, Reddy said the mission aims at “maximising the value and utility of this vital resource and also embracing cleaner energy solutions and ensuring the sustainable use of coal.”
He also said the initiative aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is intended to enable diversified use of coal and reduce import dependence on oil and gas.
India’s coal reserves are estimated at around 401 billion tonnes, of which about 220 billion tonnes are classified as proven, the minister added.
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The Ministry of Coal said the gasification programme is expected to drive import substitution for products such as urea, natural gas, ethanol and coking coal, while accelerating the utilisation of domestic coal resources.
During his visit to Nagpur, the minister is also scheduled to review the Murpar mine closure site and hold a Mine Closure Advisory Committee meeting with stakeholders, the ministry said.