Coal India Sets Rs 160 Billion Capex for Expansion

20 Aug 2025 CW Team

Coal India Limited (CIL) is advancing its production and evacuation infrastructure plans under its capital expenditure programme for FY 2025-26, despite subdued coal demand in the first quarter.

The company has allocated Rs 56.22 billion — around 35 per cent of its proposed Rs 160 billion capex for FY26 — towards transportation and evacuation projects. These include rail sidings, corridors, coal handling plants, silos and road networks. The investments are critical to scaling up mechanised coal evacuation capacity from the present 151 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 994 MTPA by FY 2028-29 under its first mile connectivity initiative, an official confirmed.

The state-run miner, which produces more than 75 per cent of India’s coal, reported a dip in performance in the June quarter, with production falling 3 per cent to 183.32 million tonnes and offtake slipping 4 per cent to 191 million tonnes. However, officials pointed to early signs of recovery following reforms for coal consumers.

CIL reiterated its long-term goal of achieving 1 billion tonnes of annual production by FY 2028-29, underpinned by India’s strong economic outlook. Beyond evacuation infrastructure, the company continues to invest in land acquisition, heavy earth moving machinery, washeries and renewable energy projects to bolster supply security and diversify its portfolio.

On the renewable side, CIL commissioned 114 MW of solar capacity in FY 2024-25, bringing its total installed solar capacity to 209.08 MW as of March 2025. The company aims to expand this to 3 GW by FY 2027-28 as part of its decarbonisation strategy.

Infrastructure Urban

27 Oct 2025

Coal Ministry Achieves Milestones under Special Campaign 5.0

The Ministry of Coal and its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have achieved notable milestones under the Special Campaign 5.0, focusing on cleanliness, operational efficiency, and sustainability across the coal sector. During the implementation phase from 2–31 October 2025, over 1,205 sites were cleaned, covering 68,04,087 sq ft, nearing the target of 82,51,511 sq ft. Scrap disposal of 5,813 MT against a target of 8,678 MT generated Rs 228.7 million in revenue. In addition, 1,11,248 physical and 30,331 electronic files were reviewed, with 74,123 weeded out or closed. Key initiatives showc..

Vesting Orders Issued for Three Coal Blocks under Commercial Auctions

The Ministry of Coal’s Nominated Authority has issued vesting orders for three coal blocks under commercial coal block auctions on 23 October 2025. The Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements (CMDPAs) for these mines were earlier signed on 21 August 2025. The three blocks include Rajgamar Dipside (Deavnara), Tangardihi North, and Mahuagarhi. Of these, two are partially explored while one is fully explored, with a combined peak rated capacity of around 1 MTPA and geological reserves of approximately 1,484.41 million tonnes. These mines are expected to generate annual revenue of abou..

TEC, IIT-Hyderabad Partner to Boost 6G and Telecom Standards

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) for joint research and technical collaboration in advanced telecom technologies and standardisation. The partnership focuses on developing India-specific standards and test frameworks for next-generation networks, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). It also aims to enhance India’s participation in international standardisation f..