Coal India Ltd (CIL) has cleared the decks for the stock market debut of South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL), granting in-principle approval for the listing of its wholly owned subsidiary, according to a regulatory filing made on Tuesday.

The decision follows a directive from the Ministry of Coal asking Coal India to initiate concrete steps to ensure the listing of two of its major subsidiaries — SECL and Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) — within the next financial year. The move aligns with the central government’s broader strategy to unlock value in high-performing public sector undertakings while improving corporate transparency through wider public participation.

Coal India said the approval for SECL will now be forwarded to the Ministry of Coal for onward submission to the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management. The proposed listing will remain subject to multiple regulatory approvals from various authorities.

Officials added that Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) and the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) are also being considered for listing. BCCL had received formal approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India in September.

SECL is among Coal India’s most productive subsidiaries, with coal production of about 167 million tonnes in the 2024–25 financial year. Headquartered in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, the company operates large-scale mining projects across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

In recent years, SECL has been at the forefront of technological modernisation within Coal India and has led the expansion of the Gevra project, one of Asia’s largest opencast coal mines, further strengthening its operational profile ahead of a potential listing.