National coal technology centre mooted

HYDERABAD: Union Minister of State for Commerce and Coal Jairam Ramesh has advocated the immediate need for setting up a ‘national centre for coal technology’ and use of coal-to-liquid fuel knowhow in view of crude oil touching $146 a barrel.
“In this context, coal to liquid becomes a very important option,” he said here on Saturday during an informal interaction with scientists of the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT).
“We must set up the centre which could look at coal gasification, combustion and utilisation,” he stressed, adding that public sector undertakings BHEL, NTPC apart from consumers, research and academic institutions could be its stakeholders.
The Minister suggested that the Climate Change Research Fund which is becoming operational this year could be utilised for setting up the centre, with contribution from the government.
(Courtesy:The Hindu)