06 August 2025 at 11:44 pm IST
India has taken a significant step toward climate mitigation with the launch of its first carbon dioxide (CO₂) injection well, spearheaded by IISER Bhopal and CSIR-NGRI. The project, part of the international DeCarbFaroe programme, focuses on CO₂ mineralisation in basalt rock formations — a process that securely locks carbon underground by converting it into stable minerals. This initiative positions India at the forefront of innovative carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies in the developing world. The well is being drilled into the Deccan Traps — a massive basaltic rock formation covering around 500,000 sq. km — which offers promising conditions for rapid and permanent CO₂ mineralisation. Unlike conventional storage in sandstone aquifers, basalt reacts with CO₂ and water to form carbonates within a few years, significantly reducing the risk of leakage. Key to this process are factors like temperature, porosity, and local mineralogy, all of which are being studied by the Geodynamics and Petroleum Geology Lab at IISER Bhopal under the leadership of Dr. Jyotirmoy Mallik. This project builds on the findings of earlier initiatives like PERBAS, which demonstrated successful mineralisation in flood basalts in Iceland and the United States. Drawing on these global experiences, Indian researchers are now adapting similar approaches to suit the country’s unique geological conditions. The programme receives funding from the Government of India’s Department of Science and Technology, underscoring national commitment to clean energy transitions. As the third-largest global carbon emitter with continued dependence on coal, India sees CCS as a strategic solution to cut emissions while maintaining energy security. By capturing CO₂ from industrial sources before it is released and injecting it underground, the technology offers a viable pathway to manage emissions until fossil fuel use can be phased out by 2060. Through its participation in the nine-nation DeCarbFaroe collaboration, India not only gains access to scientific expertise but also contributes significantly to shaping global best practices in CCS. This pioneering project highlights India’s growing role in addressing climate change through science-led, scalable solutions.
