Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday, 18 June 2026, addressed the 3rd Roadshow on Surface Coal and Lignite Gasification in Mumbai, calling coal gasification a strategic lever for India's energy security, industrial self-reliance, and economic growth. He was joined by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Dubey at the event.

Context

Addressing the roadshow, Reddy underscored that coal gasification can 'significantly reduce import dependence by converting our vast domestic coal resources into value-added products such as methanol, ammonia, fertilisers and clean fuels.' He also highlighted the technology's potential for 'creating new opportunities for manufacturing and employment generation.' The presence of Chief Minister Fadnavis signals Maharashtra's active interest in hosting or facilitating gasification investment.

The roadshow series is part of a broader government effort to attract private capital into surface gasification plants across coal-bearing states, positioning India's large coal reserves as feedstock for an emerging chemicals and clean-fuels industry rather than purely for combustion power.

Policy Backdrop

The current push has its roots in a 2020 government notification that introduced a viability gap funding scheme specifically to support surface coal gasification projects. Alongside that, the government set a national target of 100 million tonnes of gasification capacity by 2030. The initiative is framed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme, which seeks to reduce India's reliance on imported petroleum products and natural gas.

Coal gasification converts coal and lignite into syngas, which can then be processed downstream into methanol, ammonia, fertilisers, and synthetic fuels. Proponents argue this route offers a lower-emission pathway for utilising India's extensive domestic reserves while displacing costly imports of liquefied natural gas and crude-derived chemicals.

Stakeholders and Impact

The fertiliser and chemical industries stand to benefit directly, as domestically produced ammonia and methanol from gasification could reduce their dependence on imported feedstock. Coal mining regions — particularly in states such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh — could see downstream industrial investment and employment if gasification plants are commissioned near pit-heads.

Maharashtra's participation through Chief Minister Fadnavis is notable given the state's industrial base and port infrastructure, which could support both investment facilitation and offtake of gasification products. Private investors and public-sector undertakings in the energy and chemicals space are the primary audience for the roadshow series.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to whether the 3rd Roadshow yields concrete commitments — such as memoranda of understanding between state governments and project developers, or fresh policy incentives announced by the Ministry of Coal. The commissioning of pilot gasification projects will be a key indicator of whether the 2030 capacity target remains on track.

With successive roadshows building momentum, the government's next steps are likely to include state-level follow-through on investment pledges and possible expansion of the viability gap funding envelope to draw in larger private players.