Ranchi, Oct 28: Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) Chairman-cum-Managing Director Chaudhari Shivraj Singh on Wednesday visited the Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) research and development pilot plant at Kasta Coal Block in Jharkhand’s Jamtara district to review the project’s progress.
During the visit, Dr Michael Blinderman, Director of Canada-based Ergo Exergy Technologies Inc. (EETI), and his team briefed Singh on the ongoing pre-ignition activities at the pilot plant. Abhijit Banerjee, Regional Director, RI-I, Asansol, B.K. Pandey, General Manager, Clean Energy Department, CMPDI, and other officials were also present.
The UCG project aims to establish and demonstrate underground coal gasification technology under Indian geological and mining conditions. CMPDI and Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) are the principal implementing agencies, while EETI, Canada, is the sub-implementing agency. The project is funded by the Coal India Limited R&D Board.
Underground coal gasification is a technology that converts coal into synthesis gas, or syngas, underground without conventional coal extraction. The gas can be used as fuel or as a raw material for producing chemicals, synthetic natural gas, fertilisers and other value-added products. The technology also offers the potential to utilise coal resources that may not be economically recoverable through conventional mining.
Initiated in March 2024, the project is being implemented in two phases. Phase I, covering site suitability and technical feasibility studies, was completed in May 2025. The project is now progressing through Phase II towards pilot-scale gasification, with pre-ignition activities underway.
The initiative forms part of CMPDI’s research and development efforts to explore advanced coal utilisation technologies and diversify the coal sector. It is expected to help develop indigenous expertise in underground coal gasification and explore alternative ways to utilise India’s coal resources, in line with broader energy security and self-reliance objectives.
