The Union Cabinet approved a multi-pronged scheme to promote coal/lignite gasification projects by state-run and private-sector companies with an outlay of Rs 8,500 crore.

It also approved two joint venture projects for coal gasification between Coal India and GAIL and Cail India and BHEL, both to be operationalised by 2028-29, the minister for coal and mines Prahlad Joshi said.

The coal-to-SNG (synthetic natural gas) project in West Bengal and the coal-to-ammonium nitrate project in Odisha, both involving joint ventures with GAIL and BHEL respectively, have estimated project costs of Rs. 13,052.81 crore and Rs. 11,782.05 crore respectively.