Jindal Steel Limited announced the large-scale deployment of syngas derived from domestically sourced coal across multiple stages of its steelmaking operations. With this initiative, the company claims to have become the first steel producer globally to implement coal gasification–based technology at such an integrated scale within the steel production chain. The move reflects Jindal Steel’s broader strategy to enhance operational efficiency, reduce dependence on imported fuels, and support India’s push toward energy security and cleaner industrial processes.
India’s First Coal Gasification-Based DRI Plant
As part of the initiative, Jindal Steel has established India’s first Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant powered by coal gasification-derived syngas. In this facility, syngas serves as the primary reducing agent for iron-making. By using syngas produced from domestic coal resources, the company aims to reduce reliance on traditional fossil fuels while ensuring a stable and cost-effective energy supply for its iron production operations. The development marks an important milestone in the application of coal gasification technology in the steel sector.
Expanding Syngas Use Across Steel Processing Stages
Building on the success of its DRI plant, Jindal Steel has further expanded the use of syngas across additional stages of steel processing. Notably, the company has started utilising syngas in galvanising and colour coating line furnaces, which industry experts consider a first-of-its-kind application in the global steel industry.
The company has begun injecting syngas into its blast furnace operations. This step helps optimise fuel efficiency while reducing the consumption of imported coking coal. By integrating syngas into multiple production processes, Jindal Steel aims to create a more sustainable and cost-efficient steelmaking ecosystem.
Reducing Import Dependence and Carbon Emissions
The adoption of coal gasification technology offers significant operational and environmental benefits. By replacing conventional fuels with syngas, Jindal Steel can lower its dependence on imported coking coal and other energy sources. At the same time, the technology helps reduce carbon emissions per tonne of steel produced, supporting the industry’s broader decarbonisation goals. The initiative also reflects the company’s response to global supply disruptions and rising energy costs, which have affected the availability of fuels such as natural gas, LPG and propane.
Alignment with India’s National Coal Gasification Mission
Jindal Steel emphasised that its coal gasification initiative aligns closely with the government’s National Coal Gasification Mission. The programme aims to promote the conversion of coal into cleaner fuels and chemicals, thereby improving the country’s energy utilisation and reducing import dependence. By adopting this technology at an industrial scale, the company is contributing to the government’s efforts to expand the use of coal-based syngas in key industrial sectors.
Supporting CBAM Compliance and Export Competitiveness
According to P.K. Biju Nair, Executive Director at Jindal Steel’s Angul facility, syngas produced from domestic coal can also replace several imported industrial feedstocks. These include methanol, ammonia, ammonium nitrate and liquefied natural gas (LNG), which are commonly used in various industrial processes. Nair further noted that combining coal gasification with carbon capture technologies could help the company meet Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) requirements in international export markets. As global regulations increasingly emphasise lower carbon footprints, such initiatives are expected to strengthen the global competitiveness of Indian steel exports.
A Step Toward Sustainable Steel Production
Through the large-scale deployment of coal gasification technology, Jindal Steel aims to redefine energy use within the steel sector. By integrating syngas across multiple production stages, the company is advancing its goals of improving efficiency, reducing emissions, and strengthening energy security. As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, industry observers believe that such innovations could play a crucial role in transforming the future of steel manufacturing, particularly as the sector seeks to balance industrial growth with sustainability and environmental compliance.
