NITI Aayog Calls For Customized Coal Gasification Solutions
As India presses ahead with plans to harness its abundant coal reserves more cleanly and efficiently, policymakers and technologists are spotlighting a critical technical hurdle: adopting gasification technology suited specifically to Indian coal’s unique characteristics. Industry and government experts say this alignment is essential to ensure cost-effective, reliable outcomes from coal gasification — a process seen as a bridge between traditional fossil fuel use and the nation’s energy transition goals.
Coal gasification converts solid coal into a synthesis gas (or “syngas”) — a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide that can be used to produce electricity or serve as a feedstock for chemicals, hydrogen and fuels — with lower emissions compared with direct combustion. But India’s indigenous coal typically contains 25–45 per cent ash, far higher than many international coals, complicating conventional gasification operations.At a recent industry session on coal gasification, a member of NITI Aayog underscored that technology choice must reflect these local geochemical realities to achieve sustained, high-efficiency performance at competitive costs. Experts reiterated that gasifiers designed for lower-ash fuels often struggle with slagging and operational inefficiencies when fed high-ash Indian coal, prompting calls for tailored technology pathways.
India’s Coal Gasification Mission, initiated by the Ministry of Coal, aims to convert 100 million tonnes of coal through gasification by 2030, supporting diversified use of domestic resources and reducing reliance on imported natural gas, methanol and ammonia while contributing to cleaner industrial value chains. Government incentive schemes and viability gap funding have been put in place to kick-start commercial projects.Domestic pilot projects — such as those by Coal India Limited (CIL) with partners like BHEL and GAIL — already illustrate early progress, with several initiatives under construction or in advanced planning stages. These ventures seek to integrate coal gasification with downstream chemical production and industrial fuel applications, bolstering India’s energy and petrochemical supply autonomy.
For urban planners, energy infrastructure developers and industrial clusters, successful deployment of gasification technology carries multifaceted implications. Low-carbon syngas can underpin cleaner power generation in industrial zones, support hydrogen and ammonia production for urban energy systems, and reduce particulate and greenhouse gas emissions compared with traditional coal combustion. This potential aligns with broader climate resilience and clean growth frameworks guiding city and economic planning.Yet, the path to widespread commercialisation remains complex. Technical barriers related to ash handling, gasifier design and feedstock variability must be matched by robust investment in R&D, local fabrication capabilities, and institutional frameworks that bridge research institutions with industry. Successful models internationally — such as China’s experience adapting gasification for higher-ash coal — show that technology fine-tuning and iterative deployment are necessary for long-term viability.
As India seeks to balance energy security, industrial growth and climate commitments, the development of fit-for-purpose coal gasification technology could offer a transitional pathway that both leverages domestic resources and supports cleaner industrialisation — provided investment, innovation and policy coordination keep pace with ambition.
