Coal India Advances Technology-Led Diversification
Coal India Limited (CIL) is expanding beyond conventional coal mining to build a diversified portfolio across energy, minerals, advanced materials, and research and development. The business development portfolio is organized around five platforms: coal gasification and coal-to-chemicals; thermal power; renewable energy and storage; critical minerals and advanced materials; and diversified minerals including iron ore.
The diversification strategy includes projects of national scale totaling approximately ₹69,346 crore across four coal-to-chemicals initiatives. These include Talcher Fertilizers Ltd. with capacity of 1.27 MMTPA of urea at estimated cost of ₹19,062.22 crore; Bharat Coal Gasification & Chemicals Ltd. with 0.66 MMTPA ammonium nitrate at ₹25,015.89 crore; Coal Gas India Ltd. with 633.6 million Nm³ per year of SNG at ₹13,052.81 crore; and CIL-BPCL Chandrapur coal-to-SNG initiative with 633.6 million Nm³ per year capacity at ₹12,214.86 crore.
Energy Projects and Renewable Initiatives
In thermal power, CIL and Damodar Valley Corporation are implementing a 2×800 MW ultra-supercritical brownfield expansion at Chandrapura, Jharkhand through a proposed 50:50 joint venture. The company has commissioned approximately 550 MW of solar capacity and is developing a 20 MW AC grid-connected floating solar project at Chilwa Taal, Gorakhpur.
For energy storage, CIL is developing the TGGENCO Choutuppal project in Telangana with 187.5 MW/750 MWh capacity and four-hour duration, and an Odisha BESS portfolio of 80 MW/320 MWh across four locations with four-hour duration. The Odisha capacity has been secured through SECI, and the EPC tender has been issued.
Critical Minerals and Graphite Value Chain
CIL is pursuing domestic opportunities in critical minerals including graphite assets in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and rare earth element opportunities in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The company aims to establish an integrated graphite value chain covering mining, beneficiation, purification, spheronisation and coating, and production of anode materials. A demonstration plant for coated spherical purified graphite with purity of at least 99.95% has been proposed in collaboration with NFTDC.
Research and Development Investments
CIL's R&D framework operates under the 2026 R&D Policy prioritizing projects at Technology Readiness Level 4 and above. The R&D portfolio comprises 20 individual projects with approved outlay of ₹231 crore. Expenditure stood at ₹61.31 crore in FY24, ₹245.38 crore in FY25, and ₹183.88 crore in FY26, with planned expenditure of ₹225 crore for FY27, ₹350 crore for FY28, ₹400 crore for FY29, and ₹500 crore for FY30.
Major achievements include filing five patents with two additional under process, grant of one patent for bifacial perovskite solar cells, and technology transfer for Velocity of Detonation measurement equipment. The company supports major Centres of Excellence including CIL Centre of Sustainable Energy at IIT Madras (₹87.90 crore), CLEANZ at IIT Hyderabad (₹98 crore), and CIL Centre for Innovation in Mining at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad (₹67.45 crore).
Technology Development and Risk Management
CIL is pursuing Underground Coal Gasification with Phase I completed on 31 May 2025 and Phase II commencing 20 June 2025, scheduled for completion in 2026. The company will adopt stage-gated risk management covering technology, market, execution, ESG, cyber, and capability risks. Key performance indicators will cover project delivery, operational availability, renewable capacity, mineral resource advancement, import substitution, risk-adjusted returns, and ESG outcomes.