About Coal Gasification:

• Coal gasification is a process in which coal is partially oxidized with air, oxygen, steam or carbon dioxide to form a fuel gas.
• This gas is then used instead of piped natural gas, methane and others for deriving energy.
• China has the biggest number of coal gasification projects in the world. 5% of China’s total coal consumption is from its gasifier.
• The US also has some coal gasification plants running.

Significance of coal gasification

According to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, urea is currently produced using pooled natural gas, which comprises of both domestic natural gas and imported LNG. Hence, the usage of locally available coal for making fertilisers would help reduce the import of LNG.

According to the International Energy Agency report, the coal gasification process holds good potential in the future with coal being the most abundantly available fossil fuel across the world and that even low-grade coal can be used in the process.

Concerns associated with Coal Gasification

• Coal gasification actually produces more carbon dioxide than a conventional coal-powered thermal power plant.
• According to CSE estimates, one unit of electricity generated by burning gasified coal generates 2.5 times more carbon dioxide compared to burning the coal directly.
• Coal gasification plants are costlier than conventional power plants.
• Since coal is the main feed for gasification, it in no way helps India’s decarbonisation goals.
• Coal gasification is one of the more water-intensive forms of energy production.
• There are concerns about water contamination, land subsidence and disposing of waste water safely

Source: Infrastructure and Energy