據世界天然氣9月2日消息稱，印度計劃在未來10年將1億噸熱煤轉化為合成天然氣和化工產品，這是印度為促進清潔能源的更廣泛使用努力的一部分。

印度煤炭部長普拉拉德·喬希昨日晚間表示，預計到2030年，煤炭氣化和液化總投資將達到4萬億盧比(550億美元)。根據煤炭部的數據，在截至3月31日的財政年度，印度煤炭產量為7.291億噸。

據總部位于倫敦的國際能源機構清潔煤炭中心表示，煤炭氣化是將煤炭轉化為合成氣的過程，合成氣是一氧化碳、氫氣、二氧化碳、天然氣和水蒸氣的混合物。

這些合成氣可以加工生產能源燃料以及尿素等產品。在煤的直接液化中，煤可以直接加工生產液態烴。這位部長說，該計劃“不再是愿望，而是一項要求”，強調了該國對原油進口的嚴重依賴。

喬希表示，為了鼓勵企業建立這樣的項目，印度煤炭部制定了一項政策，如果生產的煤炭用于氣化和液化，將在即將舉行的煤炭商業開采區塊拍賣中給予20%的收入分成。

國有煤炭生產商印度煤炭公司（CIL）是印度東部奧里薩邦擬議中的煤氣化和化肥合資項目的一部分。

該部表示，CIL計劃在該國至少建立三個合資氣化廠。該公司已經在計劃建立一個煤制甲醇項目。

曹海斌 摘譯自 世界天然氣

India to divert 100mn t coal to gasification projects

India is aiming to convert 100mn t of thermal coal into synthetic natural gas and chemical products in the coming decade, as part of its broader push to promote cleaner sources of energy.

A total investment of 4 trillion rupees ($55bn) is envisaged in coal gasification and liquefaction by 2030, coal minister Pralhad Joshi said late yesterday. India produced 729.10mn t of coal in the financial year that ended 31 March, according to coal ministry data.

Coal gasification is the process of converting coal into syngas — a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, natural gas, and water vapour, according to the IEA Clean Coal Centre, a London-based information and analysis provider.

The syngas can be processed to produce energy fuel as well as products such as urea. In direct coal liquefaction, coal can be directly processed to produce liquid hydrocarbons. This plan “is no more an aspiration, but a requirement,” the minister said, underscoring the country’s heavy reliance on crude oil imports.

To encourage companies to set up such projects, the coal ministry has devised a policy that will give a concession of 20pc on revenue sharing in the upcoming auction of coal blocks for commercial mining, if the coal produced will be used for gasification and liquefaction, Joshi said.

State-controlled coal producer Coal India (CIL) is part of a proposed joint-venture coal-gasification and fertilizer project in the eastern state of Odisha.

CIL plans to set up at least three joint-venture gasification plants in the country, the ministry said. The company is already working on plans to build a coal-to-methanol project.