New Delhi: South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a Mini Ratna subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), has undergone a significant transformation since 2014, expanding its coal production, infrastructure, productivity and community development initiatives across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
The transformation comes amid wider reforms in India’s coal sector aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, technology adoption, mine planning, evacuation infrastructure and energy security. India’s domestic coal production crossed the 1-billion-tonne mark for the second consecutive year in FY 2025-26, reaching 1.04 billion tonnes on a provisional basis.
SECL has emerged as one of the key contributors to this growth, producing 176.28 million tonnes (MT) of coal in FY 2025-26, compared with 34.2 MT in its year of inception, FY 1985-86.
SECL Coal Production Rises to 176.28 MT
SECL’s production has increased substantially over the past decade.
Coal production rose from 124.26 MT in FY 2013-14 to 176.28 MT in FY 2025-26, reflecting the company’s growing operational capacity and productivity.
In FY 2025-26, SECL contributed approximately:
- 23% of Coal India Limited’s total output
- 17% of India’s total coal production
- Coal offtake of 178.63 MT across 13 states
- More than 46% growth in offtake compared with 122.03 MT in FY 2013-14
The company’s operations support more than 36,000 regular employees and 24,000 contractual workers, besides a wider ecosystem of transporters, suppliers and service providers.
Mining Productivity More Than Doubles
SECL has recorded a major improvement in mining productivity over the past decade.
Output per Man-Shift (OMS), a key indicator of mining efficiency, increased from 7.23 tonnes in FY 2013-14 to 16.47 tonnes in FY 2025-26.
The improvement has been supported by greater mechanisation, modern mining practices, technology adoption and improved utilisation of mining equipment.
The Gevra, Kusmunda and Dipka mega mines in Korba remain at the centre of SECL’s production operations. Together, these three mines have a combined capacity of around 185 million tonnes, making the Korba coalfields a major centre of coal production and power generation.
₹13,685 Crore Railway Infrastructure Push
SECL is also strengthening coal evacuation infrastructure through major railway projects.
The company is developing the Chhattisgarh East Railway and Chhattisgarh East-West Railway corridors in partnership with IRCON and the Government of Chhattisgarh.
The projects involve:
- Investment of around ₹13,685 crore
- Approximately 342.6 km of railway lines
- Connectivity to the Mand-Raigarh and Korba coalfields
- Improved movement of coal and other goods
- Future passenger connectivity to remote areas
The expanded rail network is expected to improve evacuation efficiency and connect coal-producing areas more effectively with the national railway system.
First Mile Connectivity Projects Expand Mechanised Coal Evacuation
SECL has operationalised 11 First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects with a combined annual capacity of 156 million tonnes.
The projects have involved an investment of approximately ₹2,700 crore and are designed to increase mechanised coal loading while reducing the carbon footprint associated with coal transportation.
Another seven FMC projects are planned, which are expected to add 85 million tonnes per year of mechanised loading capacity.
Dispatch through FMC systems increased by 28% in FY 2025-26 and accounted for 41.3% of SECL’s total dispatch, highlighting the growing role of mechanised coal evacuation.
Mechanisation Changes Mining Operations
SECL has increased the use of advanced mining equipment and technologies across its operations.
More than 88% of SECL’s coal production is being carried out using surface miners without conventional drilling and blasting. This approach helps reduce associated vibration and dust.
In underground mining, Continuous Miners have become an important part of mass-production operations and contribute around 76% of SECL’s underground coal production.
The company has also introduced paste fill technology at Singhali Underground Mine. The technology uses an engineered mixture to fill mined-out areas, supporting underground stability and enabling mining beneath surface areas where conventional mining may be constrained.
Digital Technology Strengthens Mine Monitoring
Digital systems are increasingly becoming part of SECL’s mining operations.
The company’s DigiCOAL platform integrates technologies such as:
- Machinery monitoring
- Drone-based surveys
- Video analytics
- Worker-safety applications
- Digital monitoring systems
DigiCOAL was also presented at the Central Vigilance Commission’s national workshop in February 2026, highlighting the role of digital technology in improving transparency and accountability.
SECL has deployed a network of more than 1,600 CCTV cameras across mines, sidings and dispatch points. AI-enabled surveillance analytics are planned as the next step in building a digitally connected mining ecosystem.
SECL Expands Opportunities for Women Employees
Modernisation at SECL has also opened new opportunities for women employees.
Under Project Dharashakti, SECL is providing skill development and training to women employees for technical and operational roles, including Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM) operations.
A group of 19 women trainees has been undergoing HEMM operator training using advanced simulators.
SECL has also established:
- Coal India’s first all-women-operated dispensary at Vasant Vihar, Bilaspur
- Its first all-women-operated Central Store Unit at the Central Workshop, Korba
These initiatives aim to increase women’s participation in technical and operational positions traditionally dominated by men.
SECL Net Worth More Than Doubles
SECL’s financial strength has grown alongside its operational expansion.
The company’s reported net worth increased from approximately ₹9,544 crore in March 2015 to ₹20,457 crore in March 2026, representing a rise of nearly 114%.
SECL also made a significant contribution to government revenues.
In FY 2025-26, the company contributed around ₹11,830 crore to Central and State government exchequers through direct taxes, royalty and other taxes and levies.
Royalty payments increased from approximately ₹2,075 crore in FY 2014-15 to ₹3,485 crore in FY 2025-26, a rise of nearly 70%.
CSR Spending Rises to Over ₹127 Crore
SECL has expanded its CSR initiatives across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, with a focus on healthcare, education, skill development, livelihoods, rural infrastructure, water conservation and social inclusion.
CSR expenditure increased from ₹43.91 crore in FY 2013-14 to more than ₹127 crore in FY 2025-26, representing growth of approximately 188%.
Since FY 2014-15, SECL has invested around ₹1,078 crore in mining-affected communities.
The company has also provided 5,405 employments against land from FY 2014-15 to August 2026, supporting livelihood opportunities for local communities.
SECL Ke Sushrut Supports Medical Education
SECL’s SECL Ke Sushrut programme, launched in 2023, provides free residential NEET coaching to meritorious students from the company’s operational areas.
The programme includes accommodation and meals.
Across its first two batches:
- 80 students participated
- 70 students qualified NEET
- Successful students secured admission in MBBS, dental, Ayurveda, physiotherapy and veterinary courses
SECL Ke Sushrut is also the first CSR scheme of a coal PSU to be listed on the Government of India’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Portal, supporting transparent and accountable delivery of benefits.
SECL Ki Dhadkan Provides Free Heart Surgeries
Another major healthcare initiative is SECL Ki Dhadkan, which provides free corrective heart surgery to children suffering from congenital heart disease.
The programme has completed 300 surgeries and is progressing towards its target of 1,060 surgeries.
The initiative aims to help families access specialised medical treatment and improve healthcare outcomes for children from communities around SECL’s operational areas.
Mine Closure and Land Restoration Gain Focus
SECL has completed the scientific closure of 28 abandoned mines as of August 2026, the highest number among Coal India subsidiaries.
The company is increasingly focusing on the future use of mining land and its potential benefits for local communities after mining activities conclude.
Environmental initiatives have also expanded significantly.
During FY 2025-26, SECL planted a record 14.36 lakh saplings across 571 hectares, including dense plantations using the Miyawaki method. This compares with around 5 lakh saplings planted in 2014.
Reusing Mining Land for Communities and Renewable Energy
SECL is exploring ways to repurpose former mining areas for community and economic activities.
The Kenapara Eco Park near Bishrampur in Surajpur district, Chhattisgarh, demonstrates how a former mining site can be developed for tourism and community enterprise.
At Banki 7&8 Underground Mine in Korba, reclaimed land now accommodates a health centre and a weekly market.
Reused mine water has supported irrigation across more than 3,800 hectares, while solar power projects are creating additional productive uses for mining land.
SECL’s installed solar capacity has also increased to 44 MW, compared with no installed solar capacity in 2014.
Mand-Raigarh Emerging as New Production Base
As SECL prepares for its next phase of growth, the Korba coalfields continue to remain a major hub of energy security, while the Mand-Raigarh coalfield is emerging as an additional production base.
Expanding railway connectivity is expected to support the development of the Mand-Raigarh region and strengthen coal evacuation capacity.
SECL’s transformation since 2014 extends beyond higher coal production. The company has simultaneously focused on productivity, modern logistics, digital technology, financial performance, environmental restoration, renewable energy and community development.
The company aims to continue increasing production and deliveries while improving efficiency and ensuring that the benefits of its growth reach employees, communities, consumers and the wider economy.
About SECL
South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) is a Mini Ratna subsidiary of Coal India Limited operating across the coalfields of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Established in 1985, SECL is one of India’s major coal-producing companies, with operations spanning large open-cast and underground mines. The company contributes significantly to India’s energy security while undertaking initiatives in infrastructure development, technology, sustainability, CSR and community welfare.
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