Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of India’s first commercial-scale coal-to-ammonium nitrate project in Odisha, strengthening industrial self-reliance, energy security and chemical manufacturing capabilities.

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• India’s first commercial-scale coal-to-ammonium nitrate facility will be established at Lakhanpur in Odisha with a total investment of ₹25,016 crore.
• The project will be developed by Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited, a joint venture between Coal India Limited and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited.
• The upcoming plant will produce 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate daily, reducing import dependence and strengthening domestic industrial chemical supply chains.
• Coal gasification technology converts coal into synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, enabling production of chemicals, fertilizers and synthetic fuels.
• The project supports India’s energy security objectives by reducing reliance on imported natural gas, ammonia, methanol and other chemical intermediates.
• India possesses over 400 billion tonnes of coal reserves, making coal gasification a strategic pathway for value-added industrial development.
• The government has introduced incentive schemes worth up to ₹46,000 crore to accelerate coal gasification projects and attract large-scale investments.
• Coal gasification initiatives are expected to generate nearly 50,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities while boosting industrial growth in coal-bearing regions.