Underground Coal Gasification
Context:
The Ministry of Coal has launched India’s first pilot project for underground coal gasification in Jharkhand.
More on News:
- It will be located at Kasta coal block in Jamtara District, Jharkhand, selected for its suitability to Indian geo-mining conditions.
- It aims to transform the coal industry by converting coal into valuable gases like methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.
- These gases can be used to produce synthetic natural gas, chemical feedstocks for fuels, fertilisers, explosives, and other industrial applications.
Project Overview:
- Managing Organisation: Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) in collaboration with:
- Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) Ranchi and Ergo Exergy Technologies Inc. (EETI) from Canada.
- Funding: Coal India Limited (CIL) R&D Board, exemplifying collaboration between ECL and EETI as sub-implementing agencies.
- Two phases:
- Phase 1: Preparing a Technical Feasibility Report through borehole drilling and core testing.
- Phase 2: Focus on coal gasification at a pilot scale.
- Expected Impact
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- Create transformative opportunities for India’s energy sector.
- Enhance energy security and promote sustainable development.
- Establish new standards in coal resource utilisation.
- Contribute to India’s journey towards energy self-reliance.
Underground Coal Gasification (UCG):
- It is the process to use and convert deep, economically unmineable coal into syngas for use in electric power, liquid fuels, and synthetic natural gas.
- It offers the advantage of accessing coal resources that are unfeasible to extract through traditional mining.
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Advantage
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UCG reduces operating costs, surface damage, and safety risks by eliminating conventional coal mining.
- It makes economically unmineable coal exploitable, enhancing domestic resources. Coal transportation costs, emissions, and local footprint are minimised by processing underground.
- Most ash remains underground, reducing the need for extensive gas cleaning and mitigating environmental issues.
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Coal gasification is expected to reduce imports by 2030 as well as reduce carbon emissions and foster sustainable practices.
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What is Gasification? What is Coal gasification?
Challenge:
- UCG poses significant environmental risks, particularly groundwater contamination from coal combustion wastes.
- Burning coal releases more CO2 per unit of energy than any other fuel, contributing significantly to global warming, and UCG is no exception.
- Subsidence is unavoidable with UCG as burning the supporting coal layer converts it to gases, leaving behind only residual ash and a void.
- This developing technology faces geological and technical challenges, with factors like coal seam depth and permeability impacting feasibility.
- Poor government regulation and community engagement have also hindered UCG projects.
International Insights:
