India can significantly reduce its dependence on imports and strengthen long-term energy security by accelerating coal gasification projects, Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Thursday, as the government stepped up efforts to attract investments in the sector.Speaking at a road show on the Centre’s plan to promote surface coal and lignite gasification projects, Reddy said coal gasification offers an opportunity to convert the country’s vast coal reserves into high-value products like syngas, methanol, hydrogen, ethanol, urea and sustainable aviation fuel.Many of these products are currently imported in large quantities, and domestic production through coal gasification could help save foreign exchange, reduce import dependence and create new industrial value chains in the fertilizer, steel, chemicals, transportation and clean energy sectors, he said.The minister said India has the world’s fifth largest coal reserves, amounting to over 400 billion tonnes, and has the resources needed to transform its industrial landscape through advanced coal utilization technologies.Reddy said, India is the world’s second largest coal producer and consumer, while Coal India Limited is the largest coal producer globally. He said that the Gevra mine of Chhattisgarh is among the largest coal mines in the world.Coal plays a major role in the country’s energy system, meeting about 70% of its electricity demand and accounting for about 55% of India’s energy mix.Also, the government is committed to achieving its net-zero emissions target by 2070 through cleaner and more efficient use of domestic coal resources, Reddy said.Referring to the National Coal Gasification Mission, he said the government has set a target to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030 and expressed confidence that the incentive scheme will drive large-scale investment and rapid technology adoption.The minister said the draft request for proposal (RFP) for the scheme has been placed in the public domain for consultation with stakeholders, with feedback being sought to further strengthen the implementation framework.Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who attended the event, said that India is entering a new era of coal gasification driven by modern technologies.Emphasizing that energy security is central to the country’s economic growth and resilience, Fadnavis said excessive dependence on imports makes India vulnerable to geopolitical developments and supply-chain disruptions.Inviting investors and industry leaders to invest in Maharashtra’s emerging energy and industrial ecosystem, he said, “Atmanirbhar Bharat is the path to a developed India.”The road show was attended by Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey, Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt, senior officials of the Ministry, representatives of coal sector PSUs, industry leaders, technology providers, investors and other stakeholders.