Union Minister Reddy Urges States to Accelerate Coal Gasification and Critical Minerals Mining
Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday urged state governments to accelerate coal gasification and critical minerals mining, citing the need to maximize India’s domestic resources and reduce import dependency. The directive signals a strategic push toward energy security ahead of the country’s 2030 clean energy targets.
- Minister Reddy urged state cooperation to fast-track coal gasification and critical minerals exploration for energy security.
- The initiative aims to reduce India’s import dependency while supporting clean energy and electric vehicle manufacturing goals.
- A new federal framework and intensified state-level dialogue are expected to shape implementation in the coming months.
Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday urged state governments to accelerate coal gasification initiatives and intensify exploration of critical minerals, framing the moves as essential for maximizing India’s domestic energy resources and reducing import dependency.
The directive comes at a time when India possesses the world’s fifth-largest coal reserves yet remains heavily reliant on imported coal and critical minerals vital for its growing renewable energy and electronics sectors. Coal gasification, which converts coal into synthetic gas for power generation and fertilizer production, is viewed as a key pathway to cleaner utilization of the fossil fuel while preserving domestic reserves. Simultaneously, the mining of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements has gained strategic urgency amid global supply chain tensions and the government’s push toward electric mobility and clean technology manufacturing.
According to reports by Nagaland Post, the minister’s appeal was met with a mix of industry optimism and cautious scrutiny from environmental stakeholders. ‘We need a coordinated federal approach to unlock the full potential of our resources,’ Reddy stated during a high-level meeting in New Delhi, emphasizing that state participation would determine the pace of implementation. Industry bodies welcomed the focus on gasification technology, while green advocacy groups warned that expanded mining without robust ecological safeguards could undermine climate commitments.
