Govt Pushes Urea Production By Way Of Coal Gasification Amid West Asia Crisis

The government is urging state governments to establish coal gasification projects to reduce India's import dependency on petroleum products, fertilizers, and steel. By producing syngas domestically, the initiative aims to stabilize rates, save foreign exchange, and promote an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. States like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha have already introduced special schemes to support this vision. To further accelerate the sector, the central government has announced an incentive of Rs 46,000 crore for coal gasification. The Fertilizer Ministry is also discussing a new policy for urea production utilizing this technology. Addressing concerns about technology, it is confirmed that domestic companies like BHEL and Jindal Steel possess the required capabilities, and foreign technology is accessible. Furthermore, addressing claims of fuel shortages for power generation, the government clarified that there is an 81-day coal reserve available for the power sector, ensuring uninterrupted supply for thermal power companies.