The case for building India’s coal chemistry capability
The article advocates for India to build its coal chemistry capability to enhance energy security and reduce dependence on imported resources like LPG. It highlights India's success in managing crude supply disruptions through refinery flexibility, a result of indigenous R&D and technical discipline. The core argument is to apply similar discipline to coal chemistry, specifically through coal gasification to produce Dimethyl ether (DME), a clean-burning substitute for LPG. DME can be blended with LPG, potentially displacing significant imports and saving foreign exchange. The article mentions a Union Cabinet-approved scheme of ₹37,500 crore to promote surface coal and lignite gasification, targeting 100 million tonnes annually by 2030, and emphasizes the role of institutions like CSIR's National Chemical Laboratory and the Centre for High Technology in developing and scaling indigenous technologies.
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