The Ministry of Coal hosted a high-level Roadshow on Coal Gasification – Surface and Underground Technologies in Mumbai, bringing together policy makers, industry leaders, investors, technology providers and other stakeholders to accelerate India’s shift towards cleaner and more efficient use of coal. The programme demonstrated how coal gasification can transform India’s vast coal reserves into sustainable energy sources and chemical feedstock, reduce import dependence and create new avenues for economic growth.

Delivering the keynote address, Additional Secretary and Nominated Authority, Ministry of Coal, Ms Rupinder Brar, highlighted the historic milestone of crossing 1 billion tonnes of coal production, calling it a landmark achievement that underscores the sector’s pivotal role in powering India’s growth. She emphasised that coal remains the country’s predominant energy source and will continue to meet growing demand, driving economic growth and national development.

Ms Brar outlined the Ministry’s vision of positioning coal gasification as a central pillar of India’s energy transition and industrial expansion. She noted that coal gasification offers an environmentally friendlier method to utilise domestic coal reserves while producing clean fuels, chemicals, fertilisers and other value-added products essential for national self-reliance — a pathway that also reduces the ecological footprint of coal use.

The roadshow reflected the Government’s commitment to building a robust ecosystem for surface and underground coal gasification projects. Ms Brar urged stakeholders to scale up indigenous technologies, strengthen research and development, foster innovation, attract private investment, and develop viable business models. She emphasised aligning investments with global best practices in environmental protection, decarbonisation, circular economy principles and sustainable development goals to advance energy security, industrial competitiveness and environmental stewardship.

A detailed presentation highlighted the benefits, key enablers and methodology of coal gasification. Coal is converted into synthetic gas (syngas) containing hydrogen (H₂), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), which can be used to generate electricity, produce fertilisers and chemicals, or serve as hydrogen feedstock. Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) was also showcased, which gasifies deep, unmineable coal seams in-situ using air, oxygen or steam. Hydrogen from UCG can support India’s clean fuel and hydrogen economy initiatives, while syngas and value-added products are generated through partial oxidation of CO and H₂.

UCG offers significant environmental and operational advantages. It exploits deep seams with minimal surface disturbance, uses less water than conventional coal processes, and enables production of cleaner fuels such as methanol, dimethyl ether (DME) and synthetic natural gas (SNG).

The Ministry has conducted extensive stakeholder consultations with state governments, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Directorate General of Mines Safety and the Central Ground Water Board to ensure safety standards are understood and implemented. A dedicated committee has been formed to review mining plan guidelines and integrate UCG-specific provisions, while efforts are underway to streamline approvals and include these provisions in the next round of coal mine auctions.

An interactive Q&A session allowed stakeholders to engage directly with senior officials and experts on policy frameworks, technology options and investment avenues in coal gasification.

By combining cleaner technology with regulatory and policy support, the Ministry of Coal aims to make coal gasification, including UCG, a key pillar in India’s journey towards sustainable and secure energy. The roadshow reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to advancing innovative technologies and fostering partnerships to unlock new value streams from India’s coal reserves in an environmentally responsible manner.