Ranchi, October 28, 2026: Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) Chairman-cum-Managing Director Chaudhary Shivraj Singh visited the Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) Research and Development (R&D) pilot plant at the Kasta Coal Block under Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) in Jamtara district, Jharkhand, on Wednesday.
During the visit, Dr. Michael Blinderman, Director of Canada-based Ergo Exergy Technologies Inc. (EETI), along with his team, briefed the CMPDI CMD on the pre-ignition activities underway at the pilot plant. CMPDI Regional Institute-1, Asansol, Regional Director Abhijit Banerjee, General Manager (CED) B. K. Pandey from CMPDI headquarters in Ranchi, and other officials from Regional Institute-1 and the Clean Energy Department were also present.
The objective of the Underground Coal Gasification R&D project is to establish and demonstrate the technology under Indian geo-mining conditions. CMPDI, Ranchi, and ECL, Sanctoria, are the principal implementing agencies, while Canada-based EETI is the sub-implementing agency. The project is funded by Coal India's Research and Development Board.
Underground coal gasification is an advanced technology that converts coal into synthesis gas, commonly known as syngas, without extracting it through conventional mining methods. The gas can be used as a fuel or as a feedstock for producing synthetic natural gas, fertilisers, chemicals and other value-added products. The technology also offers the potential to utilise coal resources that may not be economically recoverable through conventional mining.
The project was launched in March 2024 and is planned for completion in two phases. Phase I, which involved assessing site suitability and technical feasibility, was successfully completed in May 2025. Under Phase II, the project is progressing towards pilot-scale gasification, with pre-ignition activities currently underway.
