[en] The progress made in the last twenty years in use of fluid bed processes for power generation from coal is highly encouraging. On assessing our fuel resources we have also entered the area by putting many bubbling atmospheric pressure fluidized bed combustion (AFBC) power plants. We are yet to put up a circulating atmospheric pressure fluidized bed combustion (AFBC) power plant. A number of combined cycle power plants based on pressurised fluidized bed combustion and pressurised fluidized bed gas are being proposed and set up all over the world. Though the increased cycle efficiency of such plants is a definite advantage the unknown areas in such plants are also vast. The developments in this field are to be watched, because the efficient use of low grade coals which form a major portion of India's coal resources and the use of rejects from coal washeries for power generation is of utmost importance, of India get out of the economic and power crisis. (author). 11 figs., 1 tab