India’s Coal Gasification Push Targets Energy Self-Reliance

India wants to turn more of its own coal into useful fuels and industrial materials.

The government approved a large scheme to help companies build coal-gasification plants.

These plants can make products such as urea, methanol, ammonia and synthetic natural gas.

The scheme is intended to reduce India’s need to import some energy and chemical products.

Seven proposals were submitted in the first application round.

Another type of gasification can produce heat for factories that currently use furnace oil, diesel or coal directly.

CASE Group says one of its projects in Odisha has already replaced much of the furnace oil used at a steel plant.

Dr Roger Kumar says India should support both chemical production and industrial heat projects.