India backs coal gasification as LNG crisis deepens: what it means for carbon emissions
businesstoday.inIndia is turning to coal gasification to offset LNG shortages caused by the West Asia conflict, with a new 37,500 crore rupee incentive scheme backing the shift. Companies like Jindal Steel and UltraTech are already switching to syngas from coal for industrial processes, citing energy security and reduced import dependence. But coal gasification produces more CO2 per unit than conventional coal power, according to the Centre for Science and Environment. Without carbon capture and storage, this could lock in high-carbon infrastructure for decades. The policy trade-off is clear: short-term energy resilience versus India's 2035 emissions reduction targets.