Coal India Limited (CIL) the state-owned coal mining corporate came into being in November 1975. With a modest production of 79 Million Tonnes (MTs) at the year of its inception CIL, today is the single largest coal producer in the world and one of the largest corporate employer with manpower of 2,20,242 (as on 1st April, 2025). Across eight Indian states, CIL operates in 85 mining areas, managing a total of 310 working mines, consisting of 129 underground, 168 opencast, and 13 mixed mines and also manages other establishments like workshops, hospitals, and so on.
CIL has 21 training Institutes and 76 Vocational Training Centres. Indian Institute of Coal Management (IICM) as a state-of-the-art Management Training ‘Centre of Excellence’ – the largest Corporate Training Institute in India - operates under CIL and conducts multi-disciplinary programmes.
CIL is a Maharatna company - a privileged status conferred by the Government of India to select state-owned enterprises in order to empower them to expand their operations and emerge as global giants. The select club has only ten members out of more than three hundred Central Public Sector Enterprises in the country.
CIL has fourteen fully owned subsidiary companies viz. Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL), CIL Navi Karniya Urja Limited, for development of non-conventional/clean & renewable energy and CIL Solar PV Limited for development of solar photovoltaic module and Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Ltd. CIL has a foreign subsidiary in Mozambique namely Coal India Africana Limitada (CIAL) . CIL has incorporated 2 new subsidiaries, Coal Gas India Ltd. For coal gasification projects & CIL Rajasthan Akshay Urja Limited for renewable business.
Further CIL has five Joint Venture companies- Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited, Talcher Fertilizers Ltd., CIL NTPC Urja Pvt. Ltd., Coal Lignite Urja Vikas Private Limited & International Coal Venture Private Limited.
The mines in Assam i.e. North Eastern Coalfields (NEC) are managed directly by CIL.
Unmatched Strategic Relevance:
Contributes to 80% of total domestic coal production and 75% of total coal based generation. CIL contributes to 55% of total power generation and meets 40 % of the primary commercial energy requirements of the country. Operates Asia’s largest opencast coal mine at Gevra, SECL. Plays a key role in “Make in India” and making India incorporate globally competitive.
Production and Growth:
CIL ended the year with a production figure of 781 MT. Total coal supplies of 763.06 MTs surpassing the 753.51 MT of 2023-24 and record overburden removal (OBR) at 2019.495 MCum.
All the coal producing arms of CIL recorded positive growth, five of them BCCL, CCL, NCL, WCL and MCL have stepped over their respective annual targets for the second consecutive year. Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, the Odisha based CIL subsidiary has emerged as the country’s first coal producing company to have breached 200 MT with production at 206.1 MTs.
The raw coal offtake during 2024-25 stood at its highest-ever level of 763.06 Million Tonnes (MT) in comparison to 753.51 MT during 2023-24 with average loading of 311.7 rakes per day during FY 2024 against 292 rakes/day of FY 2023 registering a growth of 6.8%.
Projects:
There are 117 coal projects with a sanctioned capacity of 978.90 MT and sanctioned capital of Rs. 140389.40 Crores which are in different stages of implementation. These projects have contributed to coal production of 521 MT in FY 24-25. 13 mining projects with sanctioned capacity of 152.17 MTY and sanctioned capital of Rs. 45368.79 Crores were approved by CIL and Subsidiary Company Boards during 2024-25. These projects are expected to augment coal production of CIL.
Consumer Satisfaction:
Consumer satisfaction is a priority area for CIL and for enhanced consumer satisfaction, special emphasis has been given to Quality Management of Coal from mine to dispatch point. All consumers of CIL have the option for quality assessment through independent third-party sampling agencies. As a result of conscious and continuous measures taken towards quality maintenance, the gap between the weighted average of declared and analysed GCV of coal is well within one GCV band.
Touching Peoples’ lives at the grass root level:
Unlike other parts of the world, coal reserves in India mostly under the forest land or in tribal inhabited areas. Inevitably coal mining displaces people. But, CIL has a well-structured Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy for Project Affected People. The company Pursues ‘Mining with a human face’ through a socially sustainable inclusive model of growth by making Project Affected People stakeholders in the decision making process for their livelihood.
CIL is one of the highest CSR spenders amongst the PSUs. CSR activities undertaken by the Company includes education, healthcare, women empowerment, skill development sports etc. CIL and its subsidiaries have spent Rs735 crores on CSR activities during 2024-25.
Corporate Citizen:
CIL is one of the highest CSR spenders amongst the PSUs. CSR activities undertaken by the Company includes education, healthcare, women empowerment, skill development sports etc. CIL and its subsidiaries have spent Rs 654.49 crores on CSR activities during 2023-24.
Coal Beneficiation:
CIL is taking an initiative to augment its capacity to beneficiate coking coal, a scarce resource used for production of coke, a major raw material for manufacture of Crude Steel through Blast Furnace to match up to the burgeoning demand of the metal till 2030.
CIL operates 13 Coal Washeries with a combined operable washing capacity of 39.35 MTY. Among these, 10 are dedicated to coking coal, while the remaining 3 handle non-coking coal, with operable capacities of 18.35 MTY and 21 MTY respectively. In the fiscal year 2024-25, the total washed coal production from the existing coking coal washeries amounted to approximately 2.42 MT, marking a 7.07% growth from 2023-24.
Care for Environment/ Environmental Management:
Coal mining is usually associated with the degradation of natural resources and the environmental challenges from coal mining are a known fact. Coal India being a responsible corporate follows a holistic approach to mining and follows sustainable coal mining practices. A conceptual framework is in place to minimize and mitigate the environmental effects. Concerted efforts are constantly made to address environmental issues.
CIL continuously reiterates its obligation to encourage synchronization with the environment and pursue viable coal mining. Widespread tree plantation programmes are undertaken every year by Coal India on OB dumps, along haul roads, around mines, residential colonies, and other available land. CIL has planted 40.38 Lakh samplings in 1712.73 Ha including inside and outside the mine lease area in 2024-25.
It has also undertaken the creation of eco-parks as part of reclamation, to boost local tourism and promote conservation in the mining areas. The company has developed 32 eco parks on mined-out land with tourist amenities. Mine water discharged from CIL’s mines has benefitted 11.79 lakh people in 880 villages in the proximity of CIL’s mining areas in FY 2024-25.
CIL HQ obtained re-certification of ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 50001:2018 for Quality Management, Environment Management and Energy Management System respectively from Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in 2022 with validity upto Oct,2025. As on 31st March 2025, ECL, NCL and MCL are certified for Integrated Management System (ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018). NCL, is also certified for ISO/IEC 27001 – Information Security Management System. CMPDI HQ and its seven RIs are certified for ISO 9001:2015. Moreover, CMPDIL HQ, Ranchi has also been certified with ISO 37001:2016 (Anti-Bribery Management System).
Conservation of Energy:
Conservation of Energy is a priority area for CIL and various measures are taken towards reduction in specific energy consumption. High wattage luminaries /conventional light fittings have been replaced with low power consuming LEDs of appropriate wattage in the majority of the places for quarry lighting, UG mine lighting, street lighting, office and other workplaces, townships, etc., thereby resulting in huge saving in electricity consumption high energy efficient super fans have been installed in different subsidiaries of CIL. Energy Efficient Water Heaters have been installed at different places in CIL subsidiaries, and Auto Timers in Street Lights have been installed at different places in CIL subsidiaries. Almost all the areas of the subsidiary companies have maintained Power Factors 0.90 to 0.99 during 2023-24 by installing capacitor banks of appropriate KVAR rating.
Various steps have been taken for utilizing solar power as an alternative source of energy such as in kilo-watt scale rooftop solar plants are in successful operation.
Foraying into renewables: Decarbonisation of Operations
Solar Energy generation:
CIL possesses approximately 196.97 MW of solar capacity across various subsidiaries, resulting in the generation of 120.72 million units for internal consumption. CIL has an ambitious plan of installing 3 GW of renewable energy by 2027-28 and 9.5 GW by 2029-30 in pan India.
Moving towards the achievement of Carbon Neutrality:
Due to the implementation of energy efficiency measures, in 2024-25, resulted in saving approximately 155.61 million units of electrical energy, contributing to a reduction of around 127600 tonnes of CO2 per annum.
In 2024-25, the total solar energy generated amounted to 120.72 million units. Consequently, this solar energy generation has led to a reduction of approximately 96582 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP):
The Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system has achieved stability across CIL, serving as the primary repository for critical operational information, including production data, inventory management, equipment status, ongoing project updates, and workforce details.
Diversification Strategy: Chemicals & Fertilizers Sector and New Business Verticals
Coal India (CIL) is actively pursuing a diversification strategy to reduce its dependence on coal and transition towards a more sustainable energy future. This involves diversifying into renewable energy by establishing coal based-thermal and pump storage projects, solar & wind energy generation projects, critical minerals, underground coal gasification etc. The integration with renewables is a crucial step towards achieving a sustainable energy future. The company’s long term vision prioritizes diversification into new business verticals over the coming decades to respond to changing dynamics in the energy market and enhance the cleaner use of coal to reduce its carbon footprint.
System Improvement in Project Monitoring:
CIL is currently executing a variety of projects, ranging from mining, washery, evacuation projects, etc. In order to ensure smooth implementation of such projects, CIL is continuously monitoring the ongoing progress through a number of sophisticated project management mechanisms.
Safety Policy of CIL
Safety is accorded prime importance in the operations of CIL as exemplified in the mission statement of CIL. CIL has a well-defined Safety Policy for ensuring safety in mines.
First Mile Connectivity:
Coal India’s flagship initiative, the 'First Mile Connectivity Projects,' encompasses 72 identified projects with a combined capacity of 843 MTPA, requiring an estimated investment of approximately Rs. 27,750 crore for implementation across four phases. These projects aim to enhance the mechanized coal transportation and loading system.
These FMC Projects are expected to augment mechanized evacuation from 151 MTPA to 994 MTPA by FY 28-29. CIL anticipates improvements in coal quality, savings in under-loading charges, and a positive environmental impact through the implementation of these projects.
Towards Atmanirbhar Bharat: CIL’s 1 BT Production Vision:
CIL aims to increase coal production to 1 billion tonnes (BT) by FY 2028-29, up from 781 million tonnes in FY 2024-25, to reduce dependence on coal imports and meet domestic demand.
All key projects and enablers—including environmental/forest clearances, land, and evacuation infrastructure—have been identified. With active support from the stakeholders, CIL is committed to this goal. However, the actual production and supply will continue to align with the prevailing demand scenario.