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Farmers are our indispensable yet unsung heroes. They plant their hopes in fields bolstered by fertilizer that often come from far away places. The Government of India exercises every effort to reduce the burden of high fertilizer input cost to farmers. Can India’s coal be gasified with US developed TRIG technology and flip the paradigm. Convert high ash coal into domestically produced fertilizer, transforming a natural resource into critical input sovereignty. 

Few nations straddle the complex crossroads of energy security, food production, and fiscal policy as starkly as India. Sitting atop some of the world’s largest coal reserves—nearly 378.2 billion tonnes—India commands a resource that has long been seen as a climate liability. But with the right technology, this black rock could hold the key to solving one of the country’s most urgent challenges: fertilizer self-sufficiency.

A strategic resource in abundance

India’s coal fields—from Talcher’s 38.65 billion tonnes to Jharia’s 19.4 billion tonnes of coking coal—offer a domestic buffer against volatile global markets. Production has surged, reaching 1,047.7 million tonnes in 2024–25, underscoring the nation’s mining and logistical capacity. Where once this resource was derided for its polluting footprint, today it is being reimagined as a building block of resilience.

Fertilizer: The food security vulnerability

Despite standing as the second-largest fertilizer consumer in the world, India is glaringly trapped in a perilous cycle of dependency, shackled by imports that threaten its agricultural soul. Urea—beloved by farmers—still sees about 20% imported, while DAP dangles dangerously at 50–60% dependence. MOP, the vital nutrient for our soils, is fully imported, leaving the nation vulnerable at every turn. 

Currently around 15 million tonnes of fertilizer demand are unmet by domestic production crying gap that underscores the urgency. Worse, nutrient use efficiency hovers at 35–40%, with the rest lost to the environment, compounding emissions and soil degradation. The government’s soaring subsidy bill—₹1.88 lakh crore in 2023–24, nearly 4% of the Union budget—lays bare a brutal truth: fertilizer insecurity is no longer just an agricultural challenge; it is a national crisis threatening nations economic stability and sovereignty.

Coal-to-fertilizer: A game-changer

One solution may be to convert coal into fertilizer feedstock. By gasifying coal into synthesis gas (syngas), then producing ammonia and urea, India could reduce imports, ease subsidy pressures, and shield farmers from global price shocks.

The barrier? India’s coal is ash-heavy, making conventional gasification unreliable. Enter a solution for India to consider-Transport Integrated Gasification (TRIG)—a US technology developed with substantial funding from the Department of Energy designed specifically for , lignite and high-ash coal. Unlike traditional systems, TRIG handles ash as a dry, solid output, avoiding clogs and shutdowns.

For India, TRIG may unlock coal not just for fertilizer, but also for methanol, chemicals, and cleaner power generation.

A new industrial frontier

New Delhi has already announced plans to invest ₹4 trillion ($48 billion) over the next decade to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal annually. This is poised to become one of the world’s largest industrial transitions.

• For India: It means advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance), boosting Make in India manufacturing, advance towards food security and creating high-quality jobs.
• For the U.S.: It means technology licensing and joint ventures, reinforcing its role as innovations leader in gasification.

Coal as the catalyst for food security and partnership

Coal has long stood as a symbol of discord in international negotiations, often seen as an obstacle blocking paths toward a brighter, cleaner future. But now, a new dawn breaks—one that transforms our perspective. Coal-to-fertilizer is not merely about chemicals and energy; it is a revolution of hope and possibility. It means turning the dark shadow of dependence into the radiant promise of self-reliance, from carbon chains to fields bursting with life.

Imagine the profound impact when coal is harnessed not as a burden, but as a catalyst for food security—binding India’s vast reserves to the limitless potential of U.S. innovation. Together, these two nations can forge a partnership rooted in purpose and passion. This is more than engineering; it is a heartfelt alliance that bridges nations, uplifts farmers, empowers industries, and safeguards the dignity of workers across borders.

India’s coal, once cast aside as a mere resource, holds the extraordinary potential to become the unlikely foundation of sustainable agriculture and a symbol of resilient friendship. It may be a story of transformation—where science gives way to trust, and barriers blossom into bonds of shared progress and hope, a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture and a stronger U.S.–India alliance.