The Ministry of Coal successfully concluded a major Roadshow on Coal and Lignite Gasification Projects in Hyderabad on June 11, 2026, bringing together industry leaders, technology providers, investors, financial institutions, coal and lignite companies, industry associations, and representatives from Central and State Governments. The event served as a platform to showcase the Government of India's vision for accelerating coal gasification and promoting cleaner, value-added utilization of the country's abundant coal resources.
Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy highlighted India's strong resource base, noting the country possesses nearly 400 billion tonnes of coal reserves - the fifth largest in the world - with sufficient availability for several decades. He emphasized that India is the world's second-largest producer and consumer of coal, with nearly 70% of electricity generation dependent on coal and millions of livelihoods linked to the sector. Despite vast coal reserves, India remains heavily dependent on imports of methanol, ammonia, fertilizer feedstocks and critical industrial chemicals, resulting in substantial foreign exchange outflow annually.
The Minister announced the Union Cabinet's approval of a ₹46,000 crore combined Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects, describing it as a transformational step in India's energy and industrial journey. The Draft Request for Proposal (RFP) has been placed in the public domain for comments and suggestions, with stakeholders invited to contribute inputs for strengthening the framework.
Minister of State Shri Satish Chandra Dubey highlighted the strategic importance of coal gasification for realizing the vision of a self-reliant India, specifically mentioning the ₹37,500 crore Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal and Lignite Gasification Projects. He noted that coal gasification will attract substantial investments, encourage advanced technology adoption, generate large-scale employment opportunities, and catalyze industrial growth across the country.
Coal Secretary Shri Vikram Dev Dutt emphasized that coal gasification offers a pathway to produce fuels, fertilizers, chemicals and industrial inputs that are currently imported in substantial quantities. He highlighted that recent developments in West Asia have reinforced the need to build resilient domestic supply chains and reduce import dependence, with Central support, State incentives, assured coal linkage and downstream infrastructure creating a compelling investment ecosystem.
The event featured a detailed presentation on the Draft RFP covering eligibility criteria, bidding methodology, incentive structure, coal linkage provisions, project milestones, evaluation parameters, and participation timelines. BHEL and CIMFR showcased indigenous coal gasification technologies, while Maharashtra highlighted its policy incentives for cluster-based development, and Chhattisgarh and Telangana presented attractive investment opportunities.
The interactive session and Q&A addressed stakeholder concerns regarding project financing, technology partnerships, coal availability, regulatory approvals, environmental clearances, infrastructure requirements, and downstream opportunities. Senior Ministry officials provided detailed responses on various provisions of the scheme, with discussions reflecting strong interest from industry, investors, technology providers, and financial institutions.