Coal India Limited (CIL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) to establish a Centre for Sustainable Energy at the institute. The agreement was signed on Wednesday by Achyut Ghatak, Director (Technical) of CIL, and V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, in the presence of P.M. Prasad, Chairman of CIL, along with senior officials from both organisations.

The proposed Centre will act as a hub for research, innovation, and capacity building in sustainable energy technologies. Backed by CIL’s funding and aligned with its strategic diversification goals, the Centre aims to develop solutions for repurposing coal mines, advancing low-carbon technologies, and redefining coal as a clean-energy feedstock.

Speaking on the occasion, P.M. Prasad said Coal India is evolving from being India’s primary energy provider to a key enabler of the clean energy transition. “This MoU marks a historic step in Coal India’s journey toward sustainable growth. Through this collaboration with IIT Madras, we aim to generate indigenous solutions that ensure energy security, decarbonisation, and socioeconomic progress,” he noted.

V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, said that industry–academia partnerships are vital to India’s low-carbon transition. “This partnership with Coal India reflects our shared commitment to building a sustainable energy future. Together, we aim to create scalable, impactful solutions for India’s green growth,” he added.

The Centre will also contribute to human capital development through PhD, postdoctoral, and internship programmes, equipping the next generation of researchers and engineers to lead India’s net-zero journey by 2070.