Coal India Limited, a state-owned coal mining and refining company announced global bids for establishment of a coal to methanol plant (C2M) in Dankuni Coal Complex in West Bengal. This new generation coal to methanol plant will be first in India to operate by surface coal gasification route based on the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model. As per the pre-feasibility report of the proposal, the company has already floated tender for selection of the finest BOO operator for bracing the plant for 25 years. The overall capital outlay of the plant is approximately around INR 60000 million which will be spread out under CIL valuables.
Along with the designing, building, producing, storing and maintenance of activities, BOO operators would get an active hand to own and lease the C2M plant. The plant will be built with sufficient capacity to cater to the methanol demand pertaining from Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar. CIL for promoting and marketing is strengthening ties with IOCL for procurement of a lifelong tender. The company will also provide 24 per cent ash content, low ash-high calorific coal from Ranigunj coalfields as a prime raw material to produce 2050MTPD Methanol.
The project is in line with government methanol economy programme that looks to reduce the methanol imports from international market. Moreover, it is another strong step in support of Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative which will assist the country to strengthen its foothold as a supreme manufacturing hub across globe.
