The last of a long list of government-backed "clean coal" projects has fallen over, with the Andrews government reluctantly confirming the end of a $90 million program announced amid much fanfare six years ago.

After days of pressing by The Age, Treasurer Tim Pallas’ department issued a statement announcing the conclusion of the joint federal and state Advanced Lignite Demonstration Program (ALDP) after the collapse of the program’s remaining scheme – a plan to turn Gippsland coal into char and oil by a company called Coal Energy Australia.

Latrobe Valley brown coal. Credit:Andrew De La Rue

Mr Pallas refused to answer questions, instead leaving his department to handle media requests. Two other projects supported under the program had already failed.

The latest failed project did not receive any of the $90 million in government funding as it did not succeed in turning brown coal into clean fuel. It is not clear how much of that money has gone to any project.