- Jharkhand is the site for India’s first attempt to convert coal into gas.
- CMPDI is working on the project in Jamtara district’s Kasta-East area.
- The first phase has been completed, second phase to start after approval from Coal India’s R&D board.
India’s first-ever attempt to convert coal into gas is happening in Jharkhand. This research and development (R&D) project is being carried out by Coal India, with CMPDI (Central Mine Planning & Design Institute) working on it. The project is located in the Kasta-East area of Jamtara district. The first phase of the project has now been completed. For 12 months, CMPDI scientists conducted research in this area, and the research report has been submitted to Coal India’s R&D board. After receiving approval from the R&D board, the second phase of the project will begin. This phase will focus on extracting gas from coal, and the work will be completed within 15 months after receiving approval.
How Gas Will Be Extracted from Coal
There are many coal mines where extracting coal through underground or open mining is not feasible or economically viable. The government has decided to work on using coal as an energy source in a different form. In this regard, gas will be extracted from coal. A well will be drilled at the location of the coal mine, and gas will be produced from the coal. The gas will then be extracted through pipelines for use.
Canada-based Company is the Technical Partner
The coal-to-gas extraction project is being carried out in the coal blocks of CIL (Coal India Limited). The technical partner for this project is a Canadian company, Agro Energy Technology Incorporated (AETI), which specializes in extracting gas from underground coal. The company has successfully conducted experiments in several countries around the world.
Various Uses of the Gas
In other countries, this synthetic gas is used for various purposes. It is used in the power sector as well as in chemical manufacturing. After processing, ammonia and hydrogen can be produced from it. A processing plant will also be set up at the same location. Experts believe that the gas can be transported to other locations through pipelines. If the experiment proves successful, Coal India could obtain a new source of green gas, which will be pollution-free.
