en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Ministry of Coal held a pre-application meeting for the ₹37,500 crore Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Project Promotion Scheme. The scheme is expected to catalyze investments of approximately ₹2.5 to ₹3 trillion, utilize nearly 75 million tonnes of coal annually, create around 50,000 jobs, and significantly reduce India's dependence on imports of energy and chemical products.

Approved by the Union Cabinet on May 13, 2026, the scheme aims to accelerate the development of surface coal/lignite gasification projects, supporting the production of high-value downstream products such as synthetic natural gas, ammonia, methanol, direct reduced iron, synthetic fuels, and chemicals. Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Coal, Sanoj Kumar Jha, chaired the meeting, which saw active participation from public sector enterprises, private companies, technology providers, and potential applicants, reflecting strong industry interest in this flagship initiative.

During the meeting, the Ministry of Coal detailed the scheme guidelines and Request for Proposal (RFP), covering eligibility criteria, evaluation methods, financial incentives, and the application process, while comprehensively addressing participants' queries. The Ministry informed participants that the application deadline is September 7, 2026, and encouraged all eligible entities to submit their proposals within the stipulated timeframe.