Date: 08 July 2025 | Location: PIB Delhi

In a significant step towards realising the vision of a self-reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat) championed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) has recommenced operations at its long-dormant PB Project using the Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) model. This development marks a landmark moment for both BCCL and the wider Coal India Limited (CIL) ecosystem, establishing PB as the first operational MDO mine within the CIL group.

Awarded to Eagle Infra India Limited for a tenure of 25 years, the PB Project is set to deliver 52 million tonnes of coal—primarily coking coal—over its lifetime, with a peak rated capacity of 2.7 million tonnes per year. This is a crucial resource for India’s steel and infrastructure industries.

This public-private partnership underlines India’s determination to strengthen domestic energy capacity by:

1. Reviving underutilised coal assets through private expertise

2. Reducing dependency on imports by increasing indigenous coking coal production

3. Adopting advanced mining technologies and international best practices

4. Promoting local employment and regional economic upliftment

5. Ensuring transparency, sustainability, and efficiency in resource use

BCCL will receive six per cent of gross revenue through a revenue-sharing model, setting a benchmark for fair and transparent mining collaborations.

This revival initiative is being steered under the leadership of Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, and Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chander Dubey, with strategic direction from Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal. The milestone represents a paradigm shift in how legacy assets are repositioned as catalysts of growth, propelling the nation towards sustainability and self-sufficiency.

Shri P.M. Prasad, Chairman of Coal India Limited, who attended the inauguration virtually, hailed the initiative as a “pioneering step” and highlighted its transformative impact. He remarked that restarting the PB Project signifies more than operational resumption—it’s about turning past constraints into future potential, empowering local communities, and advancing national goals.

The event also witnessed participation from key leaders of BCCL, including Chairman and Managing Director Shri Samiran Dutta, Director (HR) Shri Murli Krishna Ramaiah, Director (Technical) Operations Shri S.K. Singh, and Director (Technical) Project & Planning Shri Manoj Kumar Agarwal, alongside senior representatives from Eagle Infra Pvt. Ltd.

CMD Shri Samiran Dutta expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Ministry of Coal, Coal India Limited, and other stakeholders for their continued support. He reiterated BCCL’s unwavering commitment to national objectives such as Mission Coking Coal, reducing imports, and driving sustainable mining operations.

Release ID: 2143166

Prepared by: Shuhaib T