India's coal reserves, long burned for power, could soon become the raw material for fertilisers, fuels, and industrial chemicals — and Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh wants the country to move faster on that pivot. On Wednesday, 11 November 2026, Singh took to X to champion India's Coal Gasification Scheme, calling it a critical step toward reducing import dependence and unlocking the potential of domestic natural resources.

Posting in Hindi, Singh wrote: 'कोयला गैसीकरण योजना भारत के प्राकृतिक संसाधनों के बेहतर उपयोग और आयात पर निर्भरता घटाने की दिशा में महत्वपूर्ण पहल है।' ('The Coal Gasification Scheme is an important initiative in the direction of better utilisation of India's natural resources and reducing dependence on imports.') He added that it would boost domestic production of urea, methanol, and other chemicals, and give fresh momentum to energy security, industrial growth, and the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.

From raw coal to urea: the logic of gasification

Coal gasification converts coal into synthetic gas — or syngas — which can then be processed into a range of high-value products rather than simply combusted for electricity. For India, the strategic prize is urea: the country is one of the world's largest importers of the fertiliser, and replacing even a fraction of that import bill with domestically produced urea would have significant consequences for both the trade deficit and farm input costs.

The Ministry of Coal set a landmark target back in 2020: gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030. That ambition fits neatly into the same year's Atmanirbhar Bharat framework, which pushed hard for domestic manufacturing in precisely these upstream industrial sectors — fertilisers, petrochemicals, and specialty chemicals — where India has historically sent large sums abroad.

Where the fertiliser and chemicals industries stand to gain

The domestic fertiliser industry and chemical manufacturers are the most immediate beneficiaries if the scheme scales. India's reliance on imported urea and methanol leaves both sectors exposed to global price swings and supply-chain disruptions — vulnerabilities made painfully visible in recent years. A reliable domestic feedstock sourced from India's coal belt would change that calculus substantially.

Singh's post does not announce a new policy measure or budget allocation — it is a statement of political and policy intent from a senior cabinet minister, signalling continued government focus on the scheme. The next concrete milestones to watch are the rollout of pilot gasification projects and any new incentives that could appear in the next Union Budget or a coal ministry action plan.

Atmanirbhar Bharat's energy dimension

India's self-reliance campaign has largely been discussed through the lens of electronics, defence, and pharmaceuticals. Coal gasification represents its less-visible but equally consequential energy dimension — the idea that the country's vast, underutilised coal reserves, rather than being a liability in a decarbonising world, can serve as a bridge feedstock for chemicals the economy urgently needs. That reframing is at the heart of what Singh is advocating.

Whether pilot projects accelerate into full commercial scale will determine whether the 2030 target of 100 million tonnes remains achievable. The political pressure from ministers like Singh keeps the agenda visible — and that, in India's policy ecosystem, is rarely inconsequential.