‘Country needs to focus on coal liquefaction R&D’

Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday urged scientists of Central Institute of Mining fuel Research (CIMFR) to focus on coal liquefaction research in the interest of people as well as the country.

The Union Minister, who is on a two-day visit here, while inspecting CIMFR research plant said coal-to-liquids research is the need of the country and demand of the times for if price of petrol is hiked or its scarcity arises coal liquid would be available as an alternative for the country.

Funds would not be an impediment for research at all 38 laboratories of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) across the country, he said and appreciated the performance of CIMFR Dhanbad, a CSIR laboratory.

Vardhan inaugurated the country's first Advance Mining Research Centre at CIMFR and asked industrialists and scientists to associate themselves in research works for the success of 'Make In India' programme.