Coal India and HURL Sign Non-Binding MoU to Explore Coal Gasification-Based Ammonia-Urea Plant at Sindri, Jharkhand
Coal India Limited (CIL) and Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL) signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding on 29 September 2026. It covers the exploration of a coal gasification-based urea production project at Sindri, Jharkhand. The proposed plant would be located at HURL's Sindri unit.
Coal would be gasified to produce synthesis gas (syngas). The syngas would then be used to make ammonia and urea. HURL already operates natural gas-based urea plants at Gorakhpur, Barauni and Sindri.
In the first phase, the two companies will assess the technical, commercial and implementation aspects of the project. This work will support preparation of a Preliminary Feasibility Report (PFR) to evaluate whether the project is viable.
The proposed project would use domestic coal for fertiliser production. The aim is to reduce dependence on imported natural gas and other feedstocks. Coal gasification projects in India fall under the Coal Ministry's National Coal Gasification Mission, which targets 100 million tonnes of coal gasification capacity by 2030.
CIL is also a promoter of Talcher Fertilizers Limited, which is building a coal gasification-based urea plant at Talcher, Odisha. That plant is designed for 1.27 MTPA of urea.
The source does not state the plant capacity, investment size, technology provider or timeline for Sindri. These will depend on the outcome of the PFR.
