27-May-2022: Government of India has set a target to achieve 100 Million Tonnes Coal Gasification by 2030: Additional Secretary, Coal Ministry

The Ministry of Coal organized the National Mineral Congress in Bhubaneswar today with the support of Power Ministry, Steel Ministry and Mines Ministry. Addressing the Congress through virtual mode, Shri Anil Kumar Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, wished all success to the National Mineral Congress and hoped to get valuable outcome through the deliberations of the stakeholders.

Addressing the National Mineral Congress as the Chief Guest, Shri VK Tiwari, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, said that the Ministry has prepared a National Mission document to achieve 100 MT Coal Gasification by 2030. “Coal gasification is future. It is considered as cleaner option compared to burning of coal. Gasification facilitates utilization of the chemical properties of coal,” he said.

Shri Tiwari said that technological advancements are offering greater coal recovery, flexibility in mining operations, increased productivity, greater safety and lowering cost. “Companies need to adopt new technologies and build digital infrastructure to support the current and future requirements. There is a need to ensure optimal use of technology in the sector,” the additional secretary said.

Talking about challenges in aluminum sector, Shri Tiwari said that India is blessed with huge bauxite resources about 3,896 million tonnes to meet its future need however he added that India’s reserve constitute only 17 percent of its resources, , which is about 656 million tonnes. “There is a need to convert those resources into proven reserve to boost bauxite production. We also need to come up with plans to use scrap to make quality products,” he said.

The additional secretary talked about the roadmap for coal to hydrogen and said that India’s hydrogen demand is likely to increase to 11.7 million tonnes by 2030 from 6.7 million tonnes per year as of now. “Refineries and fertilizer plants are the largest consumers of hydrogen now, which is being produced from natural gas. It can be produced through coal in the processes during coal gasification,” he added.

Shri Tiwari said that Conferences like this provide an opportunity to brainstorm and improve across the sectors. “We have started commercialization of the sector, which is showing results. Double approval has been removed; process of mine allocation made online and gasification has been incentivized. We are taking steps to support the sector from all around,” he said.

The National Mineral Congress being organized by Indian National Committee of World Mining Congress today saw participation of industry experts from 20 prominent companies. Discussion was held on challenges in aluminum and steel sector, coal gasification and road map for carbon to hydrogen. On Saturday, the delegates will be visiting the Coal Gasification Plant of JSPL in Angul.

6-Apr-2022: Coal Gasification Pilot Projects  & Advantages

Government has initiated steps to execute the four pilot coal gasification projects announced in Budget 2022-23. Details of the four projects, including location, budget allocation, source of coal, etc., are as under-

Subsidiary	Location	Mines	Coal Requirement(MT)	Coal Grade	Product	Capacity	Approx. Cost as per PFR(in Cr)	Status
ECL	Bahadurpur	Sonepur Bazari Mine	1.35 MMTPA	(G4-G5)	Methanol	(0.66 MMTPA)	7421	Tenders invited
SECL	Bhatgaon Area	Mahamaya Mine	1.35 MMTPA	(G4)	Ammonia	(0.72 MMTPA)	7816	Tenders invited
WCL	Juna Kunad	Niljai Mine	0.8 MMTPA	(G9-G10)	Ammonium Nitrate	(0.66 MMTPA)	7893	Tender document under preparation

For execution of 4th pilot coal gasification projects, CIL & BHEL are jointly exploring a high ash coal (> 40%) based surface coal gasification project for production of ammonium nitrate using BHEL’s indigenously developed technology. The location is under finalisation and the PFR is currently under preparation.

Gasification of coal in the above projects would result in production of Syngas which is further processed to produce different chemicals.

As the above products, produced through goal gasification, will not be used for power generation, no such study has been undertaken. However, the scientific literature on coal gasification enumerate the following:

1. The SOx and NOx emission is lower compared to regular combustion of in coal-fired boilers in thermal power plants;
2. It is technically amenable for CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage) when gasification is done using pure oxygen compared to regular combustion using atmospheric air; and,
3. The CO2 emission foot print is comparatively lower for some chemicals produced through coal gasification route.

Coal gasification projects at CIL are being undertaken to promote an alternate and comparatively cleaner use of coal. These projects are envisaged as pilot projects and on achievement of techno-commercial viability, the projects would serve as foundation to further setting up of such plants and will thereby help in ensuring relevance of coal in view of the COP26 pledges.

27-Jul-2021: Government of India has decided to revive Talcher unit of Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd

Government of India has decided to revive Talcher unit of Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd (FCIL) by setting up a Ammonia Urea plant of 12.7 Lakh Metric Tonne per annum capacity by forming a Joint venture Company (JV) of nominated PSUs i.e. Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL), Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd (RCF), Coal India ltd (CIL) and FCIL. Accordingly, a JV company named “Talcher Fertilizers Ltd (TFL)” has been incorporated on 03.11.2015.

The direct employment opportunities would be about 510 and indirect employment opportunities would be 4500 (during construction phase) for the Talcher Fertilizer Plant. Besides employment opportunities to the local people, Talcher Fertilizer Plant would boost economic development in the eastern region and would ensure availability of urea to the farmers in the state of Odisha.

20-Apr-2021: Cabinet approves Exclusive subsidy policy for Urea produced through coal gasification by Talcher Fertilizers Limited (TFL)

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for the formulation of exclusive subsidy policy for Urea produced through coal gasification route by Talcher Fertilizers Limited (TFL).

Objectives

Considering the strategic energy security and urea self-sufficiency of the country, looking into the country's vast coal reserves, it has been decided go ahead with Talcher Fertilizer Limited plant based on coal gasification technology. The project shall improve availability of fertilizer to farmers thereby boosting development of eastern region and will save transport subsidy for supply of urea in eastern part of the country. It would assist in reducing Urea imports to the tune of 12.7 LMT per annum leading to savings in foreign exchange.

The project will also give a boost to 'Make in India' initiative and AtmaNirbhar' campaign and would help development of infrastructure like roads, railways water, etc. providing major boost to economy in the eastern part of the country including promoting ancillary industry. The project will also provide New business opportunity in form of ancillary industries in the catchment area of the project.

Coal gasification plants are strategically important as coal prices are non-volatile and coal is abundantly available.  Talcher plant shall also reduce dependence on important Natural Gas for production of urea leading to reduction in LNG import bill.  The gasification process adopted in Talcher unit is a Clean Coal Technology giving negligible SOx, NOx and free particulate emissions as compared to directly coal fired processes.

Background: Talcher Fertilizers Ltd. (TFL) is a Joint Venture Company of four PSUs namely Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers (RCF), GAIL (India) Ltd. (GAIL), Coal India Ltd. (CIL) and Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd. (FCIL) which was incorporated on 13th November, 2015.  TFL is reviving the erstwhile Talcher plant of Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd. (FCIL) by setting up a now greenfield Urea Plant with the installed capacity of 12.7 Lakh Metric Ton per annum (LMTPA). The estimated project cost of the TFL Urea project is 13277.21 Crore (+/-10%).

18-Sep-2019: Lump Sum Turn Key (LSTK) contract for Coal Gasification Plant PF Talcher Fertilizers Limited was awarded to M/s Wuhuan Engineering Co. Ltd, China.

Lump Sum Turn Key (LSTK) contract for Coal Gasification Plant PF Talcher Fertilizers Limited was awarded to M/s Wuhuan Engineering Co. Ltd, China as a part of measures to revive closed units of Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd. (FCIL) and Hindustan Fertilizers Corporation Ltd (HFCL). Government has mandated Talcher Fertilizers Ltd (TFL), a Joint Venture Company of RCF, GAIL, CIL, and FCIL to revive the Talcher unit of FCIL with an estimated investment of Rs. 13,277 crores with production capacity of 1.27 MMTPA of Neem coated Urea through coal gasification technology. TFL has also been allotted Northern part of North Arkhapal mine as captive mine for meeting its coal requirements.

Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Shri D V Sadananda Gowda said that TFL is implementing this project based on Coal Gasification Technology, being first of its kind in India. The Plant shall use a blend of coal and petcoke as feedstock for production of urea. Coal for this project shall be sourced from captive Northern part of North Arkhapal mine in Talcher region allotted to TFL and Petcoke shall be sourced from Paradip Refinery.

This project will promote use of abundantly available domestic coal in an environment friendly manner. Success of this technology shall also propel usage of coal for production of other chemical products. The project shall improve India's self-sufficiency in Urea; promote agriculture growth and availability of Urea to farmers of Odisha. This initiative would propel India towards self-reliance in the Urea sector through efforts under "Make in India" in addition to generating direct and indirect employment of about 4,500.

The ‘Inauguration of Works’ of the project has already been done by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in September Last year and since then TFL is executing many of the pre project activities. Further tendering process for other major packages is also underway and it is expected that majority of the tenders shall be awarded before end of this FY.

12-May-2022: Historic Khadi Eri Silk Training cum Production Centre in Tawang to Revive Silk Industry & Boost Local Economy

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has taken yet another historic step to revive the Silk Industry in Arunachal Pradesh and create sustainable local employment. KVIC has set up another “Khadi Eri Silk Training cum Production Centre” at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh bordering China and Bhutan. Nestled in the snow-clad Himalayan peaks at an altitude of nearly 14,000 feet, the Silk training cum production centre was inaugurated by KVIC Chairman Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena. The centre has been set up with assistance of Buddhist Culture Preservation Society, Bomdila, which has provided the building for the Silk Centre. KVIC, on the other hand, has provided the required infrastructure like handlooms, Charkha, Silk reeling machines and warping drums, etc. The centre is providing direct employment to 20 women artisans of Tawang and West Kameng districts.

Setting up of the Khadi Silk Centre in Arunachal Pradesh is inspired by the  Prime Minister’s vision of creating sustainable development in the remotest of Indian places and creating livelihood for the locals under “Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan”. This is the second Silk Training cum Production Centre set up by KVIC in Arunachal Pradesh in less than 2 years’ time. Earlier, KVIC had inaugurated Eri Silk Training cum Production Centre in Village Chullyu of Arunachal Pradesh on 17th September 2020. In December 2020, KVIC had also revived the1000-years old heritage Monpa Handmade Paper Industry in Tawang, a step that was also appreciated by the Prime Minister in his radio program “Mann ki Baat”.

Chairman KVIC said the “Khadi Eri Silk Training cum Production Centre” aims at reviving the Silk Industry in the entire North East which was almost destroyed in the last few decades. “This facility in Tawang will be a big boost to spinning and weaving activities in the entire region. Training of artisans and supporting the production of Eri Silk, which is indigenous to the North Eastern states, will create local employment and sustainable development in the region. Young designers and professionals of NIFT will also provide training to Khadi artisans at this centre to introduce new designs and develop trendier clothing to suit the modern taste of tribal youths,” he said.

For centuries, Silk has been intrinsic to the life of people in the North East but the flooding of low-quality silk in these markets also destroyed the Silk industry from North East. The development assumes significance as the tribal population in Arunachal Pradesh, men and women alike, traditionally wear Eri Silk and Khadi Cotton clothes which carries a deep significance to their egalitarian tribal society.

KVIC also aims to connect the centre with the tourists visiting Tawang and thus providing an assured market to the local artisans for their products. The production centre will be equipped to cater to the market demand.