SCCL officials to assess coal gasification projects across India
The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) is exploring opportunities in the coal gasification sector as part of its strategy to transform itself into a diversified
The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) is exploring opportunities in the coal gasification sector as part of its strategy to transform itself into a diversified energy enterprise. A team of SCCL officials is scheduled to visit major coal gasification projects, including Talcher, MCL-BHEL and JSPL facilities, later this month to study their operations.
Simultaneously, techno-economic studies are being conducted to assess the feasibility of surface coal gasification projects in the Bheemaram, Chennur South and Naini areas, according to SCCL CMD Buddhaprakash Jyoti. Engineers India Limited (EIL) has completed a feasibility study for setting up a 400-tonnes-per-day Ammonium Nitrate Melt Plant on the premises of the Singareni Thermal Power Plant (STPP).
However, the project’s return on investment was found to be inadequate to make it commercially attractive. To improve the viability of the proposal, SCCL is evaluating several options, including increasing the plant’s capacity, securing Viability Gap Funding (VGF) from the Central government and adopting indigenous technologies, he said. Meanwhile, the SCCL has identified five deep coal blocks in Bellampalli and Ramagundam regions as potential sites for the underground coal gasification (UCG).
Preparatory work, including drilling operations, is under way to launch the company’s first pilot UCG project in the Bellampalli Dip-side Block.
The BriefWire