**Executive Summary**
This document reports on Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy's visit to Maharashtra, which included the Bhoomi Pujan for two coal gasification projects and a review of mine closure activities at the Murpar Mine. Key dates mentioned are March 14, 2026, for the visit, and June 12, 2025, for the formation of the Chandrapur District Administration's Mine Closure Advisory Committee. The projects are expected to be operational within stipulated timelines, with an investment exceeding 10,000 crore rupees.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Coal Gasification Projects in Maharashtra**
* Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, performed the Bhoomi Pujan for two coal gasification projects in Chandrapur, Maharashtra.
* These projects are among seven selected for financial incentive under a Government of India scheme.
* **Greta Energy Ltd. Project:** An integrated steel plant with a 0.4 MTPA capacity, utilizing gasification technology and a carbon capture and utilization system. It will produce syngas for Direct Reduced Iron (DRI).
* **New Era Cleantech Solutions Pvt Ltd. Project:** An integrated coal gasification and clean fuels project converting domestic coal into industrial chemicals and fuels for sectors like fertilizers, mining, textiles, and packaging.
* The two projects combined are expected to process over 2.5 million metric tonnes of coal annually.
* An investment of over 10,000 crore rupees is being made in these two projects.
* These projects are anticipated to create over 2,000 direct and five times more indirect employment.
* Maharashtra will host 4 out of the 7 sanctioned coal gasification projects.
* Coal gasification is highlighted as a key pillar for India's energy independence, industrial development, and the vision of 'Viksit Bharat'.
* These projects aim to reduce imports, save foreign exchange, and strengthen industrial supply chains.
* Production is expected to commence within stipulated timelines.
**Murpar Mine Closure**
* Shri G. Kishan Reddy reviewed mine closure activities at the Murpar Underground Mine.
* Coal production at Murpar Mine began in 2003 and ceased in 2022 after the area was declared part of the Eco-Sensitive Zone of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.
* The final Mine Closure Plan was approved by the WCL Board on January 19, 2026.
* Approximately 426 employees from the mine have been redeployed to other mines in the Umrer area.
* All mining infrastructure has been removed, and the manager's office and canteen building are preserved for social use.
* Physical work related to mine closure and three years of environmental monitoring have been completed.
* Afforestation work on 5 hectares will be carried out between June and September 2026 in cooperation with the Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur.
* Eight free health camps were organized for nearby villages, benefiting approximately 715 people.
* The mine closure process is emphasized as a scientific and systematic approach to ensure environmental balance and resource conservation.
* The interests of local communities are prioritized in mine closure plans.
* The Ministry of Coal and its subsidiaries are committed to scientific mine closure, ensuring energy security with minimal environmental impact.
**Mine Closure Advisory Committee (MCAC)**
* The Chandrapur District Administration constituted the MCAC on June 12, 2025.
* The MCAC's plan focuses on sustainable development, environmental protection, and the interests of local communities post-mine closure.
* A Social Impact Assessment process has been initiated to develop a Community Development and Livelihood Plan.
* A meeting was held at the Chimur Municipal Office with the District Collector and MCAC members to discuss the overall and sustainable development of the area after mine closure.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders**
**Local Communities**
* **Impact:** The coal gasification projects are expected to create significant direct and indirect employment opportunities. Mine closure activities have included organizing health camps and preserving infrastructure for social use, alongside plans for afforestation. The MCAC is focused on their interests and developing livelihood plans.
* **Action Required:** None explicitly stated for local communities.
**Employees of Murpar Mine**
* **Impact:** Approximately 426 employees have been redeployed to other mines, ensuring continued employment.
* **Action Required:** None explicitly stated for employees.
**Government (Union and State)**
* **Impact:** The projects align with national goals of energy independence, industrial development, reducing imports, and strengthening supply chains. Mine closure efforts demonstrate commitment to environmental sustainability.
* **Action Required:** Continued oversight and facilitation of these projects and mine closure processes.
**Companies (Greta Energy Ltd., New Era Cleantech Solutions Pvt Ltd., Western Coalfields Limited - WCL)**
* **Impact:** These companies are undertaking significant investment in coal gasification projects and implementing mine closure plans as per government guidelines.
* **Action Required:** To operationalize projects within stipulated timelines, adhere to responsible mining and clean coal technologies, and complete mine closure and environmental monitoring as planned.
**Ministry of Coal and CIL**
* **Impact:** Responsible for guiding and overseeing scientific mine closure efforts and ensuring national energy security with minimal environmental impact.
* **Action Required:** Continue making continuous efforts in the field of scientific mine closure and support the development and implementation of coal gasification projects.
Key Entities Referenced
Shri G Kishan Reddy: Union Minister of Coal and Mines, who performed the Bhoomi Pujan and reviewed mine closure activities.
Coal Gasification Projects: The primary focus of the event, involving two projects in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, for converting domestic coal.
Murpar Mine Closure Site: A site where mine closure activities were reviewed by the Union Minister.
Greta Energy Ltd.: Developer of one of the coal gasification projects, an integrated steel plant.
New Era Cleantech Solutions Pvt Ltd.: Developer of the second coal gasification project, focused on clean fuels and industrial chemicals.
Ministry of Coal
Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G Kishan
Reddy Performs Bhumi Pujan for two Coal
Gasification Projects in Maharashtra
Coal Minister Reviews Murpar Mine Closure Site; Holds Mine
Closure Advisory Committee Meeting
Posted On: 14 MAR 2026 7:26PM by PIB Delhi
On the Second day of his two-day visit to Maharashtra, Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G Kishan Reddy along with Chief Minister of
Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, performed the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of two Coal Gasification projects in Chandrapur, Maharashtra
today. Shri G Kishan Reddy also reviewed the mine closure activities at Murpar Mine Closure site. Shri Reddy also held a Mine Closure
Advisory Committee meeting with stake holders at Chimur.
The two coal gasification projects for which the Bhoomi Pujan was conducted, are among seven projects that have been selected for grant of
financial incentive under GOI scheme. One of the two projects – Integrated Steel Plant based on Gasification Technology, by Greta Energy is
a 0.4 MTPA independent integrated steel plant (ISP) and a carbon capture and utilisation system of 1490 TPD capacity (CCUS), being
developed at an area of around 130 acres. The integrated steel complex will include a coal gasification island producing coal-based syngas for
Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) production.
The second project is an integrated coal gasification & clean fuels project by New Era Cleantech Solutions Pvt Ltd. The project will convert
domestic coal into critical industrial chemicals and fuels used across sectors such as fertilisers, mining, textiles and packaging. Once
operational, these projects are expected to process over 2.5 million metric tonnes of coal annually.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister shri G Kishan Reddy said that Coal Gasification is emerging as an important pillar of India’s
Energy Independence, Industrial Development and the vision of Viksit Bharat. He said that 4 out of 7 sanctioned Coal Gasification projects
are coming in Maharashtra. Minister said that coal gasification will help in reducing imports, saving forex and strengthening industrial supply
chains.Minister said that an investment of more than 10,000 crore rupees in being made in these two projects. Shri Reddy said these projects are
expected to create more than 2,000 direct employment and five times more indirect employment. Minister expressed hope and confidence that
these projects will start production well within the stipulated timelines and set a new benchmark for responsible mining and clean coal
technologies.
Later in the day, Minister Shri G Kishan Reddy inspected the mine closure site of Western Coalfields Limited's Murpar Underground Mine.
Coal production at this mine commenced in 2003, and the mine was closed in 2022 after the area was declared part of the Eco-Sensitive Zone
of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.Speaking on the occasion, Shri Reddy, stated that mine closure is not the end of a project, but a new beginning towards sustainable
development. He emphasized that the mine closure process should be implemented scientifically and systematically to ensure the restoration
of environmental balance and the conservation of natural resources in the mined-out area. Minister further added that the interests of local
communities should be prioritized in mine closure plans. He said that through various initiatives promoted by the Central Government, efforts
are being made to transform closed mines into socially, economically, and environmentally useful assets.
Providing information about the Murpar Underground Mine, Shri Harish Duhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of WCL, said that
approximately 9,95,926 tons of coal have been produced from this mine since its establishment. The final Mine Closure Plan for the mine was
approved by the WCL Board on January 19, 2026. Approximately 426 employees working in the mine have been redeployed to other mines in
the Umrer area.
All mining infrastructures in the Murpar mine have been removed as per rules, while the manager's office and canteen building have been
preserved for social use on the recommendation of the district administration. All physical work related to mine closure and three years of
environmental monitoring have also been completed. Afforestation work will be carried out on 5 hectares of land in the mine area with the
cooperation of the Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur, during June to September 2026. Eight free health camps were also organized
for the people of nearby villages, benefiting approximately 715 beneficiaries.
The Chandrapur District Administration constituted the Mine Closure Advisory Committee (MCAC) on June 12, 2025, through which a plan
was prepared keeping in mind the sustainable development of the area, environmental protection, and the interests of local communities after
mine closure. Along with this, the process of Social Impact Assessment has also been initiated to study the social impact of mine closure and
to prepare a Community Development and Livelihood Plan.After the visit to the mine closure site, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, held a meeting with the District Collector and the Mine Closure Advisory
Committee at the Chimur Municipal Office. WCL's Mine Closure Nodal Officer, representatives of voluntary organizations, consultants, and
local village representatives were present. The meeting discussed the overall and sustainable development of the area after mine closure. Shri
Sanoj Kumar Jha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Shri B. Sairam, Chairman, Coal India Limited, and other senior officers of the
Ministry of Coal, CIL and WCL were also present on the occasion.
Under the guidance of the Ministry of Coal, CIL and its subsidiaries including WCL are making continuous efforts in the field of scientific
mine closure. The Ministry of Coal remains committed to ensuring energy security of the nation, while leaving minimal impact on the
environment.
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Shuhaib T
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