Coal Ministry today organized an Industry Interaction at Hyderabad aimed at promoting coal/gasification projects across the nation. Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Government of India was the Chief Guest of the event. The event served as a platform to highlight the government’s scheme for the promotion of coal gasification projects, emphasizing their pivotal role in India’s energy landscape and economic development.
Delivering the Keynote Address, Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary (Coal), explained the importance of Coal in India’s energy security, and the efforts the Government of India has made to bring in private players which led to an increase in domestic coal production, and a substantial decrease in coal imports, from 26% in 2019 to 19% (expected) this year.
He emphasized the importance of coal and lignite gasification projects in India’s energy transition. Reiterating the government’s unwavering support through initiatives such as easier land availability, financing, and incentives that promote cleaner coal technologies and enhance energy security, he called on everyone present to invest in the technology towards a greener and cleaner future.
Speaking at the occasion, M. Nagaraju, Additional Secretary & Nominated Authority, Ministry of Coal, Government of India, provided insights into the importance and potential of gasification projects in meeting the nation’s energy needs while addressing environmental concerns.
PM Prasad, Chairman, Coal India Limited, elaborated on CIL’s proactive initiatives and endeavours in the realm of gasification. He highlighted CIL’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, underscoring the company’s role as a key player in driving the transition towards cleaner energy solutions. He further explained the opportunities in coal gasification and called on interested players having the technological capacity to partner with CIL towards building a cleaner future and help achieve the net zero target by 2070.
Shubham Goel, Vice President, SBI Capital Markets Ltd., the Project Management Agency to the Scheme, made a presentation on the key contours of the scheme for promotion of coal/gasification projects.
Industry experts gave presentations on various topics following the Keynote address. During these presentations, experts spoke on the opportunities in coal gasification; R&D efforts, Blue Hydrogen Coal Gasification linked with Carbon Sequestration; High Ash Coal Gasification and Upscaling R&D in High Ash Coal Gasification.
Industry submitted their views on the scheme which was acknowledged by the Coal Ministry, who assured to put RFP for the scheme in the public forum for stakeholders’ comments/feedback shortly.
In his concluding remarks, Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary (Coal) further underscored the Ministry of Coal’s proactive approach to fostering partnerships, driving innovation, and leveraging sustainable practices in the coal sector. He requested all the industry stakeholders to come forward and participate in the RFP process and share their valuable inputs, to make the process transparent and open.
The event showcased the government’s commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability in the coal sector. Through strategic initiatives and policy frameworks, the Ministry of Coal aims to catalyze investments and technological advancements in coal/gasification projects, aligning with India’s vision for a cleaner and energy-efficient future.
