Question : COAL LIQUEFACTION



(a) whether the Government has any proposal to extract oil from coal; and

(b) if so, the details of the technologies adopted for coal liquefaction purpose on experimental basis?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL (SHRI PRATIK PRAKASHBAPU PATIL)

(a) & (b) : Yes, Sir. A policy decision has been taken to promote coal liquefaction in the country from the energy security point of view. A gazette notification has been issued notifying coal liquefaction as one of the specified end uses for the purpose of allotment of captive coal/lignite blocks to the entrepreneurs. Both direct and indirect methods of converting coal into oil have been tested commercially in different countries. An experimental project using direct conversion technology with the coals of North-Eastern Coalfields has been successfully tested earlier by Oil India Limited.