The State Government of West Bengal in India is considering coal gasification for 30% of the Deocha-Pachami block, where traditional mining methods are not feasible.
The remaining areas of the block will use open-cast and underground mining.
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The Deocha-Pachami-Harinsingha-Dewanganj coal block, with estimated reserves of 1.2 billion tonnes (bt) of coal, was allocated to West Bengal in 2018, reported the Press Trust of India.
The West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) is responsible for overseeing mining operations in the block, which is situated in the Birbhum district.
The Rs350bn ($4.05bn) project is expected to be transformative for Birbhum district and WBPDCL aims to advance coal gasification and mining operations simultaneously, the report said.
WBPDCL managing director P B Salim said: “We are seriously exploring underground coal gasification possibilities and have already held several meetings with Indian and foreign experts.”
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By GlobalDataUp to 30% of the coal deposit will be extracted through open-cast mining, while 40% of the coal will be exploited through underground mining and the remaining 30% via gasification.
Salim emphasised that gasification is essential to fully utilise this significant coal block.
“For underground mining, we floated a global tender that has generated interest. As for gasification, the area under consideration spans around 1,000 acres,” he added.
According to a senior WBPDCL official, a pilot project will be conducted to explore the potential of underground coal gasification in regions where coal lies at depths of up to 400m.
“Once progress is made, we will seek the Centre’s approval and support,” the official stated.
Coal gasification is a relatively new concept in India, promoted to enhance clean energy and reduce carbon footprints.
Coal India and Bharat Heavy Electricals have agreed on a gasification project, while Eastern Coalfields and GAIL are working on synthetic natural gas technology in West Bengal.
The presence of basalt rock in the area presents considerable obstacles for open-cast mining operations.
The state has appointed a mine developer and operator to share 71% of the revenue from basalt rock mining with the government.
Open-cast mining is set to begin in February, with the initial phase focusing on removing overburden.
