03-03-09 The government is understood to have awarded a coal block each to Tata Sons-Sasol joint venture and Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) for converting coal to liquid petroleum, entailing an investment of $ 18 bn.
The two projects would result in production of 160,000 barrels of crude oil a day.

The companies would soon be awarded prospecting licenses for the two coal blocks, a senior official in the Coal Ministry said. Jindal Steel and Power confirmed the allotment.
Initially, the government had planned one pilot project of up to $ 8 bn project in Orissa for converting coal into liquid petroleum that would produce 80,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

There would now be two CTL projects, for which one coal block each has been awarded to the two companies, the official said, adding that the project would take at least five years to commence production.
"Government of India has allotted Ramchandi promotional coal block in Orissa to JSPL on February 27 for the proposed coal-to-liquid project," JSPL said.