The CMTF was constituted by the policy and implementation committee (pic) of the Asia-pacific partnership on clean development and climate comprising nations like USA, India, Australia, China, Japan and South Korea.

With a view to promoting underground coal gasification (ucg) in India, the task force pointed out that ucg “promises a viable alternative to harness vast energy potential from deep seated coal reserves in an environment friendly manner in future.”

“India being a co-chair has a very vital role in shaping the future of CMTF and in meeting the objectives set before it,” sources said and pointed out that all members and delegates were of the view that coal would remain the mainstay of energy security and there is an urgent need to address related environment issues.

The country has sought technology transfer and information sharing on “overburden slope stability” and “extraction of steep seam coal” and proposed at the cmtf meeting it would try and explore the possibility of joint ventures in projects like coal preparation technology, mining techniques, fine coal beneficiation and waste coal management, sources added.