Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 08: India’s coal gasification programme has attracted early industry interest. Seven applications arrived from five separate companies. Adani Enterprises and state-run NTPC are among applicants. The Ministry of Coal confirmed this Tuesday.
The first application window closed on September 7. A second window opened the following day. This rolling structure lets companies apply repeatedly. Future windows will open every two months.
Adani Enterprises alone filed three applications. All three target urea production specifically. Talcher Fertilisers filed a separate urea-focused application. Two applicants therefore pursue identical downstream products.
Other applicants chose different industrial routes. Gallantt Ispat proposed direct reduced iron alongside syngas. NTPC’s application centres on synthetic natural gas production. Shyam Sel & Power proposed standalone syngas production.
This variety reflects the scheme’s broader design intent. Coal-derived syngas can feed multiple industrial chains. Fertiliser, steel and gas production all qualify. Applications spanning these areas suggest measured, cross-sector interest.
The underlying scheme carries a ₹37,500 crore outlay. Cabinet approved it in May this year. Its goal is accelerating domestic coal and lignite gasification. Conversion targets include syngas, methanol, ammonia and urea.
Government projections attached to the scheme remain substantial. Officials expect ₹2.53 trillion in catalysed investment. Roughly 25 projects could emerge from that spending. Around 50,000 direct and indirect jobs are projected.
A parallel national target extends beyond this scheme. India aims for 100 million tonnes of annual gasification capacity by 2030. This programme alone targets 75 million tonnes of that figure. Neither number reflects capacity already built.
Import substitution motivates much of this push. India imported LNG, urea, ammonia and methanol heavily last year. Combined imports of these products totalled roughly ₹2.77 trillion. Domestic gasification could eventually offset part of that spend.
Context matters here beyond Tuesday’s announcement alone. The Ministry had recently dismissed claims of weak interest. Officials called such assessments premature while the window remained open. NTPC and Talcher Fertilisers had already been confirmed then.
This scheme does not stand in isolation. An earlier ₹8,500 crore incentive programme preceded it. That effort was approved back in January 2024. Eight projects under it remain under active implementation.
The seven new proposals face formal evaluation now. Officials will assess them against scheme guidelines directly. Meeting eligibility does not guarantee eventual project approval. Distance still separates today’s applications from operational gasification plants.
