Coal India Sees 34 Per Cent Rise in Green Coal Transport via FMC Projects

09 Jun 2025 CW Team

Up to the end of May in the current financial year, CIL recorded a 36.7 per cent increase in coal dispatch via FMC projects, moving 20.5 MT compared with 15 MT during the same period last year. The coal mining giant plans to commission 19 additional FMC projects with a combined capacity of nearly 150 million tonnes per year during FY26.

FMC is an automated coal evacuation system that facilitates environment-friendly transportation from the pithead to loading points using piped conveyor belts, reducing reliance on truck-based haulage.

“We expect to transport an additional 20 million tonnes through FMC projects in the ongoing financial year,” said a senior CIL official.

The expanded use of FMC systems has resulted in a 5 per cent reduction in underloading charges in FY25 compared to FY24. Furthermore, grade conformity has improved as higher-quality coal is transported more efficiently with reduced contamination through mechanised handling.

Coal India has announced plans to commission a total of 92 FMC projects with a combined capacity of 994 million tonnes per year by the end of FY29. With a target to produce one billion tonnes of coal annually by FY29, the company is scaling infrastructure to ensure nearly all output is transported sustainably. CIL currently accounts for over 80 per cent of India’s coal production.

“FMC projects are a win-win for CIL, its customers and the railways,” the official added.

FMC infrastructure includes mechanised coal handling plants equipped with crushers to size coal and rapid loading systems that ensure precise quantities are loaded into railway wagons, preventing overloading or underloading. This replaces traditional truck transportation and manual loading, reducing dust, noise, and vehicle emissions, easing road congestion, enhancing safety, and improving wagon turnaround times.

State-owned Coal India Limited (CIL) reported a 34 per cent year-on-year increase in environmentally friendly coal transportation during the financial year 2024–25, moving 102.5 million tonnes (MT) through 20 First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects connected to the Indian Railways network. This marks a significant rise compared to 76.5 MT transported through 17 such projects in FY24.Up to the end of May in the current financial year, CIL recorded a 36.7 per cent increase in coal dispatch via FMC projects, moving 20.5 MT compared with 15 MT during the same period last year. The coal mining giant plans to commission 19 additional FMC projects with a combined capacity of nearly 150 million tonnes per year during FY26.FMC is an automated coal evacuation system that facilitates environment-friendly transportation from the pithead to loading points using piped conveyor belts, reducing reliance on truck-based haulage.“We expect to transport an additional 20 million tonnes through FMC projects in the ongoing financial year,” said a senior CIL official.The expanded use of FMC systems has resulted in a 5 per cent reduction in underloading charges in FY25 compared to FY24. Furthermore, grade conformity has improved as higher-quality coal is transported more efficiently with reduced contamination through mechanised handling.Coal India has announced plans to commission a total of 92 FMC projects with a combined capacity of 994 million tonnes per year by the end of FY29. With a target to produce one billion tonnes of coal annually by FY29, the company is scaling infrastructure to ensure nearly all output is transported sustainably. CIL currently accounts for over 80 per cent of India’s coal production.“FMC projects are a win-win for CIL, its customers and the railways,” the official added.FMC infrastructure includes mechanised coal handling plants equipped with crushers to size coal and rapid loading systems that ensure precise quantities are loaded into railway wagons, preventing overloading or underloading. This replaces traditional truck transportation and manual loading, reducing dust, noise, and vehicle emissions, easing road congestion, enhancing safety, and improving wagon turnaround times.

Building Material

11 Dec 2025

Suraj Estate Wins Euromoney Award for India’s Best Residential Developer

"Suraj Estate Developers Limited has received the Euromoney Real Estate Award 2025 for ‘India’s Best Residential Developer’, positioning the company among globally benchmarked leaders in the sector. The recognition reflects its four-decade legacy in delivering high-quality residential and redevelopment-led projects across South Central Mumbai. The Euromoney Real Estate Awards, presented by the London-based Euromoney magazine, are widely regarded as one of the most credible global assessments of performance in real estate, banking and finance. Winners are selected through surveys of inte..

Building Material

11 Dec 2025

Lloyds Metals, Tata Steel Sign MoU to Explore Strategic Collaboration

"Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Tata Steel Limited to evaluate potential areas of strategic cooperation across mining, logistics, pelletisation and steelmaking. The MoU was signed by B Prabhakaran, Managing Director of Lloyds Metals, and Mr T V Narendran, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Steel. The partnership framework aims to leverage the natural operational synergies between both companies and assess opportunities in greenfield steel projects, iron ore mining, slurry pipeline infrastructure, pellet manufacturing in iron ore–ric..

Building Material

11 Dec 2025

IndiaAI, Gujarat Govt Host Regional Conclave Ahead of 2026 AI Summit

The IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, along with the Government of Gujarat and IIT Gandhinagar, convened a Regional Pre-Summit Event at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. The initiative is part of the build-up to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for 15–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The conclave brought together senior policymakers, technology leaders, researchers and industry practitioners to examine how AI can accelerate economic, digital and social transformation across sectors. The programme focused on the overarching th..