India's clean-coal tech gets stronger

India's clean-coal tech gets stronger

Times of India

14th August 2006

NEW DELHI: India's global alliance with five other member countries as part of a Coal Mining Task Force (CMTF) under Asia Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate has got off to a strong start.

Sources said, 16 projects have already been finalised at the second meeting of the CMTF in India between August 8-10 of which as many as seven are India-focussed.

India is taking a strong position in global clean coal technologies in recognition of its growing importance as tomorrow's primary source of fuel.

This sense of urgency is being displayed despite growth rates of 6.4% last fiscal and 11% growth in coal production in the last three months alone, demonstrating a strong potential to overtake GDP growth projections of over 7% in the current fiscal.

While coal does promise energy security, removal of accompanying environmental damages is crucial to its effective utilisation, making the pace of progress of alliance significant.

These seven projects range from information sharing on coal processing technologies and coal drying to joint venture projects for fine coal benefication and waste coal management.

Besides, India has also sought technology transfer in 'overburden slope stability' and 'extraction of steep seam coal. 'All these areas will eventually culminate in high value commercial contracts as they progress.