"Also, CIL (Coal India) is exploring techno-commercial feasibility of production of methanol and other chemicals," Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
These initiatives, he said, are under feasibility study stage at present.
Asserting that CIL is exploring alternative uses of fossil fuel, the minister said that the PSU, through a joint venture with GAIL, Rashtriya Chemical Fertilizers Ltd (RCF) and Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd (FCIL) is involved in a venture to set up a coal-based fertiliser plant at the site of the defunct Talcher unit of FCIL.
Goyal further said that the methodology for auction of coal mines for sale of fossil fuel under the provisions of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 is under government's consideration.
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