The government has announced the commencement of a pilot project for underground coal gasification by Eastern Coalfields Ltd, a subsidiary of Coal India, in Jharkhand. This innovative method aims to convert underground coal into gases like methane and hydrogen, which can be used to produce synthetic natural gas, fuels, fertilizers, and more. Located at the Kasta coal block in Jamtara district, the project represents a transformative initiative in the coal industry, targeting the efficient extraction and utilization of coal resources. The first phase involves technical feasibility assessments through borehole drilling and core testing, with the subsequent phase focusing on pilot-scale coal gasification. Anadji Prasad, the project advisor for the Ministry of Coal, highlighted the potential of underground coal gasification to revolutionize coal usage by directly converting coal into usable gases, eliminating the need for physical mining. While acknowledging challenges like groundwater contamination and subsidence, efforts are being made to address these risks to ensure the success of the project. The initiative not only demonstrates a shift towards diversifying coal mining but also emphasizes exploring sustainable alternatives like coal-to-chemicals conversion. If successful, underground coal gasification could play a significant role in meeting future energy needs by efficiently extracting resources from deep coal deposits.