Centre Prioritising Energy Security With Coal Gasification

India has the fifth-largest coal reserve in the world, and the minister noted that electricity is generated from coal in about 73 per cent of thermal power projects across the country. He argued that maximising value from coal reserves can strengthen industrial competitiveness and provide feedstock for chemical and fertiliser industries. The policy shift is presented as a strategic response to global market volatility and energy security concerns.

The prime minister has laid the foundation stone for the Rs 250.16 billion (bn) Lakhanpur coal gasification project at Jharsuguda in Odisha, which the minister said represents a major step towards import substitution and industrial self-reliance. The project is framed as contributing to the vision of an Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat by converting domestic resources into higher-value products. Officials expect the scheme to catalyse investment in associated infrastructure and downstream industries.

The minister also outlined the National Critical Mineral Mission as a complementary effort to secure vital resources at home and abroad, citing Neyveli Lignite Corporation's rare earth exploration in Tamil Nadu as an example. He noted that Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to support such initiatives and that these collaborations aim to ensure inclusive growth. The broader gasification push is described as a policy to bolster energy security while supporting industrial expansion.