Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) will start a pilot project to minimize the quantity of carbon dioxide in the environment and on the use of methanol as an alternative fuel.

A unit of Gasification along with Methanol Plant is proposed to come at Dhanbad, informed Dr V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog. He was at CIMFR, Dhanbad.

“This proposed unit will help in reducing the carbon dioxide quantity by 30 percent form the environment and will also reduce, 15 percent import of the fuel,” he added.

The proposed units are soon to be come-up at CIMFR’s Digwadih campus about 12 kms for the district headquarters of Dhanbad.

Methanol is the future of fuel in India, said Dr. Saraswat adding “We are looking at conversion of coal, petroleum and natural gas to methanol so that LPG consumption would be reduced.”

About 80 percent of LPG consumed in India is imported, he said.

“Methanol can be a major market in India, besides helping reduce oil imports by 20 percent, said an alternative fuel expert.

Excess Carbon dioxide from the environment as well as from other industrial units can also be captured and consumed to increase methanol production by this proposed unit.

A fourteen kg LPG cylinder is equivalent to about 20 kg of methanol, but methanol works out 30 percent cheaper than LPG, he said.

Methanol is not only a clean fuel; it is lighter and can be easily carried to hilly areas, he said.

According to an estimate of over 8 million people in China and about 5 lakh people in Africa are presently using methanol as cooking fuel. We are focusing on to replace LPG from Methanol, he said.

The project is a natural extension of our Prime Minister’s vision of reducing import of crude and an effort to provide clean, import substitute, cost effective and pollution free cooking medium.