Casale Technologies to Support India’s First Commercial Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Complex

Lugano (Switzerland), 5 May 2026 – Casale will supply key process technologies for India's first commercial-scale coal gasification-based ammonium nitrate complex, a landmark project that marks a major step in the country's strategy to strengthen industrial self-reliance, maximize the value of domestic coal resources, and reduce dependence on imported chemical feedstocks.

Developed for Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited (BCGCL) on an L-EPC basis together with Larsen & Toubro (L&T), one of India's leading engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies, the project is located in Lakhanpur, Odisha, and forms part of India's National Coal Gasification Mission, a strategic government initiative aimed at increasing coal gasification capacity and promoting the conversion of domestic coal into higher-value industrial products.

The project brings together some of India's most important industrial players. BCGCL is a joint venture promoted by Coal India Limited (CIL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and GAIL (India) Limited, combining expertise across the energy, engineering and industrial sectors to deliver one of India's most ambitious coal-to-chemicals initiatives.

Following the foundation stone ceremony held on 20 June 2026 and led by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the project officially entered its execution phase, underlining its strategic importance for India's long-term industrial, mining and energy policies.

As highlighted by the Ministry of Coal during the ceremony, the initiative marks the beginning of "a new era of coal processing", promoting indigenous coal gasification technologies and enabling the conversion of India's abundant coal resources into high-value industrial chemicals.

With an estimated investment exceeding INR 25,000 crore, the complex will process approximately 1.3 million tonnes of domestic coal annually to produce around 0.66 million tonnes per year of technical-grade ammonium nitrate. Once operational, it is expected to meet nearly 35% of India's projected ammonium nitrate demand by 2030, significantly reducing imports while strengthening supply security for the country's mining and infrastructure sectors.

An Integrated Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Value Chain

The project combines coal gasification with downstream ammonia, nitric acid and ammonium nitrate production, creating one of India's most advanced integrated coal-to-chemicals facilities.

At the heart of the complex, Casale's technologies will convert synthesis gas into ammonia and downstream nitrates, providing the essential building blocks for the production of strategic industrial chemicals and enabling a fully integrated, efficient and reliable production chain.

Casale's proprietary technologies will support the complete downstream nitrates value chain through:

• N-LOOP^TM ammonia synthesis technology for a 920 MTD ammonia synthesis loop
• DualPURE^TM technology for a 1,650 MTD Weak Nitric Acid plant
• NitroCULTIVA^TM technology for a 2,000 MTD Ammonium Nitrate plant
• HDAN technology for a 400 MTD High-Density Ammonium Nitrate prilling unit

Leveraging more than 80 ammonia synthesis loop references worldwide, with capacities up to 3,100 MTD, together with over 120 Nitric Acid and Ammonium Nitrate references, Casale will provide proprietary technologies and critical equipment supporting the production of strategic chemicals essential to India's mining industry.

Supporting India's Industrial Transformation

Beyond its technological scope, the project represents an important milestone in India's broader ambition to develop new coal-based industrial value chains through indigenous resources and advanced process technologies.

By converting domestic coal into high-value chemicals, the initiative supports the country's objectives of strengthening industrial resilience, reducing import dependency, maximizing the value of national resources and fostering long-term economic growth.

Working alongside leading Indian industrial companies and EPC partners, Casale will contribute its proprietary technologies and process integration expertise to support the successful delivery of this landmark project.

Federico Zardi, Chief Executive Officer of Casale, commented:

"This project represents much more than the construction of a new chemical complex. It demonstrates how integrated process technologies can transform domestic resources into strategic industrial products supporting a country's long-term industrial development.

Through our ammonia and nitrates technologies, Casale is proud to contribute to one of India's most significant coal-to-chemicals initiatives, helping deliver an integrated and reliable production chain for strategic downstream industries. Projects like this show how technology can support national industrial strategies while creating long-term value from domestic resources."

Targeted for commissioning by September 2029, the project is expected to become the largest ammonium nitrate complex in India, establishing a new benchmark for integrated coal-to-chemicals development and demonstrating the country's capability to convert domestic coal into high-value industrial chemicals through advanced process technologies. For Casale, the project further reinforces its position as a trusted technology partner for complex, large-scale industrial transformation projects worldwide.

Find out more about the project in the Government of India announcement

Read more about the project in Larsen & Toubro's official announcement