Minister for setting up of Coal Research Institute

Hyderabad, Jul 5 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh today mooted the setting up of 'National Centre for Coal Research' Institute to utilise coal in a sustainable way to met the energy requirements of the country in future.

Speaking to newspersons here after visiting the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Mr Jairam said the Centre should be established with the coordination of Industry and bring all the Institutions together. ''We should pool our resources and create a national facility'', he added.

Pointing out that there was dearth of scientists in coal Chemistry in the country, the minister said it was time to develop super critical technology to set up power plants by using coal.

An Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) 125 mw power plant was being set up at Vijayawada at the cost of Rs 950 crore.

Rs 530 crore will be invested by APGENCO and 420 crore by BHRL. The plant would be operational by 2011.

The IGCC power project with six MW capacity will be taken up at Tiruchirapalli on pilot basis shortly.

Stating that a Technology Advisory Group will be formed to study the IGCC projects, he invited IICT to take part in the projects by developing the technology.

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