Sambalpur, Odisha: Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) is set to increase its coal production by 50 percent to 358 million tonnes (MT) by FY2034-35, reaffirming its status as the top contributor to Coal India Limited’s (CIL) 1-Billion Tonne (BT) production target, said CMD Uday A Kaole.
MCL currently contributes nearly 29% of Coal India’s total output, producing 225 MT in FY2024-25. It targets 239 MT in FY2025-26, with a long-term ramp-up plan to reach 285 MT by FY2028-29 and 358 MT by FY2034-35.
“Our philosophy is to prepare for 1.5 times the target. That gives us confidence in comfortably delivering the annual goals,” said Kaole during a recent media interaction.
Read Also: Expansion: Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) to Boost Coal Production Capacity by 35 Million Tonnes with 2 New Mines
Coal Availability at All-Time High
The CMD also assured that India is unlikely to face coal shortages in the foreseeable future, citing robust stocks:
- 100 MT stock with Coal India
- 35 MT stock held by MCL
- In FY2024-25, MCL dispatched:
- 158 MT to the power sector
- 36 MT to the non-regulated sector (NRS)
Pioneering Sustainable Mining: 98% Output via Surface Miners
MCL has emerged as a leader in sustainable coal mining, with 98% of its production achieved through surface miners. Introduced by MCL in 1999, surface miners eliminate the need for drilling, blasting, and crushing, minimizing environmental disruption.
“It’s not just about meeting numbers. It’s about doing it sustainably,” Kaole emphasized.
Surface miners also feature water sprinklers to suppress dust, improving air quality and workplace safety.
Full Mechanisation of Coal Transportation by 2030
MCL is fast-tracking its First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects, targeting 100% mechanisation of coal transportation by 2030, ahead of the Ministry of Coal’s 90% target by 2029-30.
FMC mechanised loading capacity growth:
- FY25: 96 MT
- FY26: 146 MT
- FY27: 183.5 MT
- FY28: 306.5 MT
- FY29: 336.5 MT
“We’ve ramped up rake loading from 10 per day last year to 28 per day, aiming for 45–50 rakes/day by year-end,” said Kaole.
Mechanised vs Manual Loading: Speed & Efficiency
Mechanised loading:
- ~1 hour per rake (via conveyor belts, silos, hoppers)
- 60 seconds per wagon
Manual loading:
- ~3 hours per wagon
- Drastically less efficient and slower
- MCL Operations Snapshot
- 18 mines in Odisha: Angul, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda
- 15 opencast mines
- 3 underground mines
Key Takeaways
- MCL to increase production to 358 MT by FY2035
- Plans 100% mechanised coal transport by 2030
- Confident in preventing future coal shortages
- Leading India’s push toward sustainable mining practices
About Mahanadi Coalfields Limited
MCL is a major coal-producing company in India and a subsidiary of Coal India Limited. It was carved out of South Eastern Coalfields Limited in 1992 and is headquartered in Sambalpur, Odisha. MCL operates several open-cast and underground coal mines, primarily in Odisha. MCL’s operations are mainly concentrated in Odisha, with mines in districts like Jharsuguda and Angul. MCL is one of the eight subsidiaries of Coal India Limited, which is under the Ministry of Coal.
