New Delhi: Coal shortage will be a thing of the past as India is set to touch a record 1-Billion Tonne (BT) production this year, Additional Coal Secretary M Nagaraju told investors at an industry interaction for the promotion of coal gasification projects in Mumbai on Wednesday. “This year, we are going to touch 1 Billion Tonne (BT) coal production. And we are likely to touch 1.5-1.6 BT by 2030. Coal shortage will be a thing of the past. We are thinking of how to offer this coal at notified prices for coal gasification plants,” said the bureaucrat.
“Power generation is not the only use that coal can be put to. It can also be used to produce chemicals. Most of these chemicals are imported. So, there is an opportunity here. There is a market here for these products. The government has been talking about self-reliance and Atmanirbharta. And the coal sector is one of the sectors where we are very keen to be self-reliant. We would like new industries to come up,” said Nagaraju.
“We are also going to offer land available with coal PSUs at concessional pricing on long-term lease to coal gasification plants. You need to send your proposals to the concerned CMD of coal PSUs. They will process it and we will approve it. There will be no issue,” said the Additional Coal Secretary.
Attended by investors, industry experts, and stakeholders, the event showcased the government’s commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability in the coal sector. The Ministry of Coal aims to catalyse investments and technological advancements in coal/lignite gasification projects through strategic initiatives and policy frameworks, aligning with India’s vision for a cleaner and energy-efficient future.
The Centre has recently approved schemes for the promotion of coal and lignite gasification under which the private sector and public sector undertakings have been envisaged to take up new projects for setting up coal and lignite gasification projects. In January, the government approved an outlay of Rs 8,500 crore as financial assistance for promoting coal, lignite gasification projects.
