Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday, 28 May 2026 hosted a live road show in New Delhi focused on surface and coal lignite gasification, signalling the government's push to accelerate private investment in domestic coal conversion technologies.

Context

The road show is part of a sustained effort by the Ministry of Coal to promote gasification as an alternative, higher-value use of India's vast domestic coal and lignite reserves. Gasification converts coal into syngas, which can feed fertilizer plants, chemical industries and power generation, reducing dependence on imported feedstocks.

Kishan Reddy announced the event live on social media, describing it as a 'Road Show for Surface/Coal Lignite Gasification, New Delhi,' drawing attention from industry stakeholders and policymakers.

Policy Backdrop

The government set a target of 100 million tonnes of coal gasification capacity by 2030, announced around 2020, as a cornerstone of its import-substitution and clean-coal strategy. The Ministry of Coal has backed this ambition through viability gap funding frameworks designed to de-risk private investment in surface and underground gasification projects.

India holds some of the world's largest coal reserves, yet much of it has historically been combusted for power rather than converted into chemicals or fertilizers. Gasification is seen as a route to unlock greater economic value from these reserves while also supporting the country's broader energy transition goals.

Stakeholders and Impact

Coal mining firms and the fertilizer and chemical industries are the primary stakeholders for gasification policy. Fertilizer producers stand to benefit most directly, as syngas derived from coal can substitute for imported natural gas used in urea manufacturing, cutting input costs and improving domestic supply security.

For mining companies, gasification projects offer a pathway to monetise lower-grade coal and lignite that is otherwise difficult to market. The road show format is intended to build investor confidence and match prospective project developers with the policy and funding mechanisms already in place.

What's Next

Observers will watch for the rollout of approved gasification projects following the road show, including the next round of tenders and any disbursements under the viability gap funding scheme. There is also growing interest in whether gasification initiatives will be formally linked to India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, given that syngas is a precursor to hydrogen production.

With the 2030 gasification target now under four years away, events like this road show are likely to become more frequent as the government attempts to translate policy ambition into on-ground investment commitments.