Question : DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGY

(a) whether the indigenous technology is not available to harness and tap the coal mine related non-conventional resources and country is still depending on international experts in these fields;

(b) if so, the measures taken by the Government to develop/ introduce indigenous technology in the field of coal mining to tap its sub-sets like Coal Mine Methane, Coal Bed Methane, Abondoned Mine Methane; and

(c) the initiatives the Government has taken to expedite the development of coal based non-conventional energy resources in order to meet the country’s energy needs and the steps taken for commercial development of non-renewable resources like coal bed methane and its sub-sets like CMM, AMM and VAM, Underground Coal Gasification (UCG), Shale Gas, Gas Hydrates?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, POWER AND NEW AND RENEWABLEE ENERGY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a): No indigenous technology is available to harness coal based non-conventional resources of energy like Coal Mine Methane (CMM)/ Abandoned Mine Methane (AMM)/ Ventilation Air Methane (VAM)/ Underground Coal Gasification (UCG).

(b)&(c): To facilitate commercial development of coal bed methane i.e. Virgin Coal Bed Methane (VCBM), the Government of India has announced CBM Policy in 1997 to facilitate commercial development of CBM in India.33 CBM blocks were awarded through different rounds of bidding by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MOP&NG) earlier. The Policy regarding harnessing of methane from Coal Mining areas (CMM/AMM) is dealt with by MOP&NG.For theUnderground Coal Gasification (UCG) policy it has not been finalised by Ministry of Coal.