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Rajya Sabha
The Central Government formulated a Coal Bed Methane (CBM) policy in 1997 to harness CBM potential in the country. A total of 16 CBM blocks have been awarded so far for exploration and production of CBM. A demonstration project named Coal Bed Methane Recovery & Commercial Utilization has been taken up in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project was sanctioned by Government of India in September 1999 and is under implementation at Sudamdih and Moonidih mines at BCCL.
Coal India Limited (CIL) and ONGC have decided to take up a project for establishing Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) technology. A draft MoU has also been approved by Board of Directors of CIL. Initial work of data exchange needed for identification of trial site has already been taken up.
Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited proposes to take up a UCG project at a total cost of Rs.1,125 lakh in a lignite rich block in Rajasthan under Ministry of Coal's science & technology programme and Department of Science & Technology funding.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Coal & Mines, Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
DS/SCH
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