Coal gasification India: What is coal gasification and how will India benefit from it? Can petrol and diesel become cheaper in future with this new scheme of the government? Why is India lagging behind countries like China in terms of coal gasification?
India coal gasification plan 2026: As soon as the name of coal comes in India, images of power plants, smoke and pollution often emerge in the mind. But now the government does not want to limit coal only to electricity generation. The central government is working on a plan that can completely change India’s energy system, petrol-diesel costs and industrial structure in the coming years.
The focus of the government is now on “Coal Gasification”. That is, the technology of converting coal into gas and other fuel products. The central government claims that this will reduce India’s dependence on foreign countries, industries will get cheaper raw materials and in the long run the cost of petroleum products may also be affected.
Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy called it a “new revolution” in India’s coal sector during a road show held in New Delhi. He said that in the coming times, coal gasification will prove to be a big step towards providing energy security to the country as well as industrial self-reliance.
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What is coal gasification?
Coal gasification is a process in which instead of burning coal directly, it is chemically converted into gas. This gas can be used in many areas. The gas prepared through this technology can be used in making fertilizers, chemicals, petrochemicals, steel, hydrogen and transport fuel. If understood in simple language, in future this technology can help in creating alternatives to fuels like petrol and diesel.
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Will petrol be cheaper than this?
The biggest question is whether petrol and diesel will become cheaper with this government scheme? According to experts, its direct impact will not be seen immediately, but in the long run this scheme can change the picture of India’s fuel sector. At present, India is dependent on foreign countries for a large part of its requirement of crude oil and many industrial products.
The government says that India spends about Rs 3 lakh crore every year on importing products which can be made in the country through coal gasification. If gasification plants are started on a large scale in the country, it can help in reducing the cost of transport fuel and industrial fuel.
However, the price of petrol is not determined only by the production cost. Tax, international market, price of crude oil and government policies also play an important role in this. So it is too early to say that petrol will become cheaper immediately, but the government is looking at it as a future energy strategy.
Why is India lagging behind China?
G Kishan Reddy admitted that despite being strong in coal production, India is lagging behind China, Australia and many African countries in coal gasification technology. In fact, in the last several years, China has invested heavily in the technology of making gas and chemicals from coal. Now India is also moving rapidly in this direction. The government is preparing to encourage companies bringing foreign technology and has assured that no hindrance will be allowed at the policy level.
Government opened treasury
The Central Government has approved an incentive package of about Rs 46 thousand crore to promote coal gasification projects. The government wants private companies and public sector units to invest rapidly in this sector. States like Odisha and Telangana have also presented initial action plans in this direction. Talks are going on with many other states so that investments can be attracted by giving policy and tax relief to the industries there too.
How much coal does India have?
According to the government, India has more than 450 billion tonnes of coal reserves, which is considered sufficient for the needs of the next 60 to 70 years.
G Kishan Reddy said that the country should make full use of its natural resources to promote industries, generate employment and reduce dependence on imports.
Will concerns about the environment increase?
Environmental experts have been continuously raising questions regarding the increasing use of coal. However, the government argues that gasification technology can be more modern and relatively less polluting than conventional coal burning. Still, experts believe that India has to strike the right balance between energy security and environmental balance. In the times to come, this will decide how big a success coal gasification proves to be for the country.
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