Coal gasifiion is the process of producing syngas—a mixture consisting primarily of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H 2), carbon dioxide (CO 2), natural gas (CH 4), and water vapour (H 2 O)—from coal and water, air and/or oxygen.. Historically, coal was gasified to produce coal gas, also known as "town gas".Coal gas is combustible and was used for heating and municipal lighting, before ...