New Delhi: Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) will conduct a pilot project for underground coal gasification (UCG) at the Kasta coal block in Jamtara District, Jharkhand.
The project is expected to help in promoting the usage of coal gasification technology in the coal sector.
The Ministry of Coal said that the project will provide a significant advantage by providing access to coal resources that are not economically viable through traditional mining methods. The initiative is also expected to create employment opportunities and promote sustainable development.
The government had approved a comprehensive policy framework for UCG in coal and lignite-bearing areas in December 2015. As per the policy, Coal India selected the Kasta coal block for the implementation of UCG technology. The project is being carried out by ECL in collaboration with CMPDI Ranchi and Ergo Exergy Technologies Inc. (EETI) from Canada.
The first phase of the project will comprise of preparing a technical feasibility report through borehole drilling and core testing. The second phase will focus on coal gasification at a pilot scale. The project is funded by the CIL R&D Board.