Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Coal addresses questions regarding research on clean coal technology. The government supports research through financial and technical assistance to institutions and Coal PSUs for coal beneficiation, clean coal technologies, and environmental protection. A pilot project on Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is underway, but no unused coal blocks are currently allocated for research. There are no current plans to allocate coal blocks specifically for research purposes.
Key Points / Main Content:
Financial and Technical Support:
* The government supports research through the Science Technology (ST) scheme of the Ministry of Coal, providing financial assistance to research and academic institutions for projects in coal beneficiation, clean coal technologies, and environmental protection.
* The Research and Development (RD) projects of Coal PSUs support projects aimed at developing and optimizing coal processing technologies, with emphasis on low-grade coal utilization and dry beneficiation. Key participating institutions include IITs, CSIR laboratories, and CMPDI.
* The Government of India has launched a scheme for promotion of Coal/Lignite Gasification projects of Government PSUs and Private sector with an outlay of Rs. 8500 crores.
* A 50% rebate on revenue share for coal used in gasification is available in commercial coal block auctions if at least 10% of the coal is used for gasification.
Underground Coal Gasification (UCG):
* A Pilot Project on Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is being implemented by CMPDI, ECL, and Ergo Exergy Technology Inc (EETI), Canada, jointly at the Kasta coal mine (Eastern Coalfields Limited) in Jamtara District, Jharkhand.
Unused Coal Blocks:
* No unused coal blocks have been allocated for research purposes by the Government.
* CIL is conducting R&D work on underground coal gasification in an abandoned coal mine of ECL.
* There are no plans to allocate coal blocks specifically for research purposes.
Impact Analysis:
Research and Academic Institutions:
* Impact: Can receive financial assistance for projects in coal beneficiation, clean coal technologies, and environmental protection through the ST scheme.
* Action Required: Submit project proposals to the Ministry of Coal for consideration and approval by the Standing Scientific Research Committee (SSRC).
Coal PSUs:
* Impact: Can support and conduct Research and Development (RD) projects focused on optimizing coal processing technologies and utilizing low-grade coal.
* Action Required: Continue to develop and implement RD projects through their RD Boards, collaborating with institutions like IITs, CSIR laboratories, and CMPDI.
CMPDI, ECL, and Ergo Exergy Technology Inc (EETI):
* Impact: Involved in a pilot UCG project to establish the technology in Indian Geomining conditions.
* Action Required: Continue the implementation of the UCG project at the Kasta coal mine in Jamtara District, Jharkhand.
Private Sector
* Impact: A 50% rebate on revenue share for coal used in gasification is available in commercial coal block auctions if at least 10% of the coal is used for gasification.
* Action Required: Participate in the Government of India scheme for promotion of Coal/Lignite Gasification projects.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the question about research on clean coal technology.
SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY: Minister of Coal and Mines who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Science Technology ST scheme of Ministry of Coal: A scheme providing financial assistance to research and academic institutions for projects in coal beneficiation, clean coal technologies, and environmental protection.
Standing Scientific Research Committee SSRC: Committee responsible for approving and monitoring projects under the Science Technology ST scheme of Ministry of Coal.
Coal PSUs: Public Sector Undertakings in the coal industry that support research and development projects.
Underground Coal Gasification UCG: A technology for extracting energy from coal seams that are too deep or too thin to be mined conventionally.
Carbon Capture and Storage CCS: A technology to capture carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities and store them underground.
Jamtara District, Jharkhand: Location of the Kasta coal mine where a pilot project on Underground Coal Gasification is being implemented.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COAL
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2789
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025
RESEARCH ON CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGY
2789. SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:
Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:
(a) the details of financial or technical support is provided by the Government to researchers
working on advanced coal beneficiation and clean coal technologies;
(b) whether there are any specific coal blocks allocated for research related to Underground
Coal Gasification (UCG) or Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies;
(c) the manner in which the Government ensure that research conducted on unused coal blocks
contributes to sustainable mining and environmental remediation;
(d) the steps taken by the Government to promote mine safety training and development of
safety technologies using these unused coal blocks;
(e) the details of research projects focusing on mine reclamation, groundwater impact and
ecosystem restoration in unused coal blocks;
(f) the details of data and findings from research in unused coal blocks disseminated to
policymakers, industry stakeholders and the public; and
(g) whether there are any plans to increase the number of coal blocks available specifically for
research to foster innovation in the coal sector/envision for unused coal blocks in balancing
India’s coal demands and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a): The Government provides financial and technical support for research in advanced coal
beneficiation and clean coal technologies through the following mechanisms:
(i) Science & Technology (S&T) scheme of Ministry of Coal - Financial assistance is
provided to research and academic institutions for projects in coal beneficiation, clean coal
technologies, and environmental protection, etc. These projects are approved and monitored by
the Standing Scientific Research Committee (SSRC).
(ii) Research and Development (R&D) projects of Coal PSUs - The R&D Boards of
coal PSUs support projects aimed at developing and optimizing coal processing technologies,
with emphasis on low-grade coal utilization and dry beneficiation. Key participating
institutions include IITs, CSIR laboratories and CMPDI.
1These initiatives are aimed at promoting sustainable coal utilization and fostering indigenous
technological advancements.
Government of India has launched a scheme for promotion of Coal/Lignite Gasification
projects of Government PSUs and Private sector with an outlay of Rs. 8500 crores, which also
includes projects for R&D.
Government has also introduced new measures to support coal gasification projects which
includes a new sub-sector under the NRS linkage auctions policy focused on "Production of
Syngas leading to coal gasification". Additionally, a 50% rebate on the revenue share for coal
used in gasification is available in commercial coal block auctions, provided that at least 10%
of the coal is used for gasification.
(b): A Pilot Project on Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) to establish technology in
Indian Geo-mining condition" is being implemented by CMPDI, ECL and Ergo Exergy
Technology Inc (EETI), Canada jointly at the Kasta coal mine (Eastern Coalfields Limited) in
Jamtara District, Jharkhand.
(c): At present, no unused coal block has been allocated for research purposes by
Government. However, researches are being done by coal companies on active coal blocks.
Further, CIL is conducting R&D work on underground coal gasification in abandoned coal
mine of ECL.
(d) to (f): Do not arise in view of reply to part (c) above.
(g): At present, there is no plan to allocate coal blocks specifically for research purposes.
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