Underground Coal Gasification- Draft Guidelines

The Government of India has released draft guidelines for Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) to promote cleaner and more efficient coal use. The guidelines emphasise scientific mine closure, groundwater monitoring, and mechanisms to tackle high costs and technological challenges associated with UCG projects.

Key Provisions of the Draft

The draft includes detailed directions for:

Preparation of mining and mine closure plans for UCG blocks.
Conducting pilot feasibility studies before full-scale operations.
Implementing groundwater monitoring and post-mining rehabilitation measures.
Maintaining an escrow account with the Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) to ensure scientific mine closure and reclamation.

Role of the Coal Controller Organisation (CCO)

Oversight and Regulatory Functions

The CCO, under the Ministry of Coal, plays a key regulatory role by:

Collecting and maintaining coal production data from all private and public-sector coal mines.
Acting as the appellate authority for disputes between coal consumers and mine owners related to the grade and size of coal.
This mechanism aims to ensure accountability, transparency, and sustainability in India’s coal operations.

What is Coal Gasification?

Thermochemical Conversion of Coal into Syngas

Coal gasification is a thermochemical process that converts coal into syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and other gases.

The process involves partial oxidation of coal at high temperature and pressure, often integrated with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies to minimise carbon emissions.

Applications and Benefits

Coal gasification enables cleaner utilisation of coal by producing syngas for:

Power generation
Methanol, ammonia, and urea production
Liquid fuels and other industrial chemicals

Challenges for Coal Gasification Technology

High Costs and Technological Barriers

Despite its benefits, several challenges hinder large-scale deployment of UCG in India:

High Project Costs: Substantial investment is needed for gasifiers, CO₂ capture, and processing units.
Technology Adaptation: Most global gasification technologies are designed for low-ash coal, making them difficult and costly to adapt for India’s high-ash coal.
Uncertain Coal Supply: Inconsistent quality and lack of long-term supply agreements affect project stability.
Input Costs: The combined expenses of coal, oxygen, and water make domestic gasification more expensive than using imported LNG or natural gas.