Union Minister for Heavy Industries Mahendra Nath Pandey dedicated India’s first, BHEL- built Coal to Methanol (CTM) pilot plant to the nation.

Notably, the 0.25 TPD capacity CTM pilot plant, indigenously designed, developed, and installed by BHEL, is currently producing methanol with purity of more than 99% from high ash Indian coals. Significantly, this conversion of high ash Indian coals to methanol through the gasification route, is the first of its kind technology demonstration in India.

The event was attended by Nalin Shinghal, CMD, BHEL; Jeetendra Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries; functional directors on the Board of BHEL and senior officials of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and BHEL.

Speaking on the occasion, Pandey said, "One of the important goals of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is to build a self-reliant nation. The role of the manufacturing sector will be crucial in realizing this vision. The government has already highlighted the importance of the manufacturing sector through schemes like Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The capital goods industry is the backbone of the manufacturing sector. It provides critical inputs such as machinery and equipment to a broad set of user industries. Being the largest engineering and manufacturing enterprise, the role of BHEL in fulfilling the vision of the Government is of particular importance."