India Proves High-Ash Coal Can Be Cleanly Gasified with Homegrown Tech

New Delhi, Sep 5 – India has successfully shown that even coal with high ash content can be gasified using homegrown technology. This breakthrough could lead to cleaner energy and less dependence on coal imports, experts said at a recent NITI Aayog event.

Coal gasification is a process that turns coal into gas, which can be used to produce cleaner fuels, chemicals, or electricity. Until now, many believed Indian coal wasn’t suitable for this because it has a high ash content — between 25% and 45% — compared to low-ash coal found in other countries.

Dr. VK Saraswat from NITI Aayog said India started working on coal gasification years ago, even before 2018 at the Talcher fertilizer plant. Back then, many experts doubted the idea because of Indian coal’s ash levels. But recent trials by Indian research groups and companies have proven otherwise.

At the event, the Ministry of Coal highlighted its push to make coal gasification more common in India. The government has launched a scheme with ₹8,500 crore in funding to support both research and commercial projects. Several groups have already been selected to receive this support.

India has the fourth-largest coal reserves in the world — about 378 billion tonnes. Of this, 199 billion tonnes are proven and ready to be used. With the right technology, this coal can now be tapped more efficiently and cleanly.

Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary at the Ministry of Coal, stressed the government’s focus on using coal in a cleaner, more sustainable way. He also pointed to the importance of reducing environmental damage while using domestic resources.

Experts from IIT Delhi, Thermax, BHEL, and CIMFR shared their success stories using Indian-developed technology. German expert Prof. Martin Grabner also gave tips on how India can adapt global best practices to fit its own coal type.

Together, these efforts prove that Indian coal can be gasified—and that a cleaner, self-reliant coal future is within reach.