Coal gasification has been used for over 200 years to turn coal into a hydrogen and carbon monoxide-rich gas. Due to oil shortages in the 1970s, a new method called integrated gasification in combined cycle (IGCC) was developed to create power from coal efficiently with fewer emissions. This led to more research and the building of IGCC plants in the 1980s and 1990s. Recently, coal gasification plants in Europe and the US have closed, but the technology has grown globally, especially in China. These plants now also capture carbon emissions and make both power and chemicals from the clean gas. In summary, coal gasification is thriving worldwide, with a renewed focus on sustainability and efficiency, especially in China.