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India Weighs Chinese Technology for Coal Gasification Push
India wants to turn coal into useful gases, chemicals and fuels instead of only burning it.
The government has created a ₹37,500-crore scheme to support this plan.
It wants 100 million tonnes of coal gasification capacity by 2030.
India already uses gasifiers to make a fuel gas for industrial heating.
The new plan needs a different kind of gas that can be used to make products such as urea, methanol and hydrogen.
China has worked on this technology for more than 60 years.
Some experts think India could learn from China rather than develop everything alone.
However, Indian coal contains a lot of ash, so imported equipment would need to be adapted.
Seven companies, including Adani and NTPC, have applied for incentives under India’s ₹37,500-crore coal gasification scheme.
India aims to establish 100 million tonnes of coal gasification capacity by 2030 and produce chemicals, fuels and hydrogen.
China has more than 60 years of coal gasification experience and leads in commercial gasification technology, according to the article.
India’s existing coal gasification largely produces producer gas for industrial heat, while the new programme targets chemical-grade syngas.
Experts say Indian coal’s 30-45% ash content requires adapted technology, but Chinese expertise could accelerate development.
- Who
- The Indian government, seven applicant companies including Adani and NTPC, Chinese technology providers, and coal-gasification expert Roger Kumar.
- What
- India is advancing a coal-to-chemicals programme and is considering whether Chinese expertise could help develop suitable gasification technology.
- Where
- India, with China identified as a potential source of coal-gasification technology.
- When
- The article was published on September 11, 2026; the issue arose as Xi Jinping was due to visit New Delhi for a BRICS summit that weekend.
- Why
- India wants to use its abundant coal for chemicals, fuels and hydrogen while reducing the time and cost required to develop gasification technology.
Chinese Technology Partnership
Indigenous Technology Development
How India should build capacity
Chinese Technology Partnership
Roger Kumar argues that China’s mature gasification technology and downstream industrial ecosystem could help India progress faster than developing the technology from scratch.
Indigenous Technology Development
The government’s scheme is technology-agnostic, encourages indigenous technologies and ultimately seeks faster Indian self-reliance.
Technology suitability
Chinese Technology Partnership
China has successfully built a large gasification industry despite using relatively high-ash coal, offering relevant experience for India.
Indigenous Technology Development
India’s coal has distinctive ash-related challenges, so no off-the-shelf gasifier can be assumed to work; equipment and operations must be adapted for Indian coal.
Key facts
- Government scheme
- ₹37,500 crore
- Capacity target
- 100 million tonnes of coal gasification by 2030
- Expected investment
- ₹2.5-3 lakh crore
- Applicants
- Seven companies, including Adani and NTPC
- China’s experience
- More than 60 years of coal gasification development
- Indian coal ash content
- Often 30-45%
- Existing versus planned use
- Existing applications mainly produce producer gas for industrial heat; the new programme targets chemical-grade syngas
Quotes
Roger Kumar
Founder of CASE Group, which has worked with coal gasification.
“The gasification itself is the common technology, but coal-to-thermal and coal-to-chemical are two different applications, with different requirements for the gasifier and the gas produced”
thehindubusinessline.com
“The government is talking about gasifying 100 million tonnes of coal. I can say with a lot of responsibility that India has already gasified 100 mt of coal”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
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