World’s largest coal miner CIl will diversify into coal to chemical business and is planning to set up a coal-based methanol plant in West Bengal.
“Coal India (CIl) intends to diversify into new 'Coal to Chemical business’ domain by converting the high calorific value, low ash thermal coal into chemical," an official said.
To implement the new strategy, premises of its existing Dankuni Coal Complex in West Bengal has been identified as the location for setting up a coal to methanol complex by using the good quality coal from Raniganj coalfield, the official said.
However, the official further said that the methanol plant would be set up through coal gasification route.
“The first step to this new venture will be pre-qualification of coal gasification licensors who can produce Syngas of required composition for production of methanol utilising the Raniganj coal,” the official added.