As West Asia war threatens gas supply, remembering a gas grid India never built, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The West Asia war has caused an energy crisis, recalling the 1973 Oil Shock and prompting India to consider alternative energy sources like coal gasification.
• In 1955, Syed Husain Zaheer proposed a national gas grid using gasified coal to Jawaharlal Nehru, but the plan faced resistance.
• A pilot plant was developed at RRLH but delayed due to wars and lack of support, finally receiving approval in 1972 after the Oil Shock of 1973.
• India launched the National Coal Gasification Mission in 2021, aiming to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030, with investments of ₹85,000 crore.

Detailed Insights:

• Syed Husain Zaheer's plan in 1955 involved gasifying coal and supplying it through pipelines for domestic and industrial use, using non-caking fuels like shale coal and lignite.
• The proposed Town Gas Supply Scheme for Hyderabad aimed to gasify coal from Singareni collieries and supply gas to the city and towns along the route, but it was not implemented due to lack of funding.
• The Ministry of Steel, Mines and Fuel and other entities opposed the plan due to concerns about the feasibility of transporting gas over long distances, hindering the project's progress.
• The coal gasification project at RRLH faced delays due to wars in 1962 and 1965, devaluation of the rupee, and opposition to CSIR labs setting up pilot plants.
• Indira Gandhi acknowledged the mistake of not prioritizing coal-based feedstock policy earlier, recognizing the need for coal gasification plants to address long-term energy requirements.
• The National Coal Gasification Mission aims to reduce reliance on imports of natural gas, methanol, ammonia, and other essential products by promoting the adoption of gasification technology.
• Bharat Coal Gasification & Chemicals Limited, a new company floated by Coal India Limited and BHEL in 2024, will focus on developing clean coal technologies.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Coal Gasification: A process of converting coal into gas, also known as synthesis gas (syngas), which is a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.
• National Coal Gasification Mission: An initiative to promote the use of coal gasification technology to reduce reliance on imports and revolutionize the coal sector.
• Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC): A technology that combines gas production from coal with electricity generation, using gas-fired and steam-driven turbines.