Kolkata: Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy is scheduled to review the operations and performance of Coal India Limited (CIL) during a two-day programme in Kolkata on September 28-29, 2026. The review is expected to bring together Coal India Chairman B. Sairam, CMDs of subsidiary companies and senior officials from the Ministry of Coal.
The meeting will focus on key operational and strategic areas, including coal production and dispatch, major projects, supplies to the power sector, the Jharia Master Plan and coal gasification initiatives.
Coal Production and Dispatch to Be Key Focus
The review comes as Coal India enters the post-monsoon period, when mining and coal evacuation typically gain momentum. Discussions are expected to examine whether higher production is translating into increased dispatches, particularly to thermal power plants.
Key areas likely to be reviewed include:
- Mine-wise coal production
- Coal dispatch and evacuation
- Supplies to thermal power plants
- Railway logistics
- Progress of major projects
- Performance of Coal India’s subsidiaries
- Operational preparedness for the coming months
According to figures cited by the Ministry of Coal, Coal India supplied 322.90 million tonnes of coal between April and August 2026, compared with 302.60 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year.
Read also: Coal Ministry Reviews Commercial Mining Reforms, Seeks Greater Private Sector Participation
Review to Cover Major Coal India Projects
The two-day exercise is also expected to assess the progress of major projects aimed at expanding Coal India’s production capacity.
The review will provide an opportunity to examine the performance of individual subsidiaries and identify operational priorities for the second half of the financial year.
Coal India’s production, dispatch and project execution will be considered alongside the logistical requirements needed to move coal from mines to consumers.
Jharia Master Plan on Review Agenda
The Jharia Master Plan is another major area expected to feature in the review. The long-running programme addresses issues associated with underground coal fires and the rehabilitation of affected communities and mining areas.
Its implementation involves several components, including:
- Management of underground coal fires
- Rehabilitation and resettlement
- Resolution of land-related issues
- Protection of mining areas
- Development and management of affected areas
The Ministry of Coal has previously reviewed rehabilitation work under the revised Jharia Master Plan.
Coal Gasification to Receive Attention
Coal gasification is expected to be another important focus area as the government promotes higher-value utilisation of domestic coal.
The Ministry of Coal has been advancing initiatives to promote coal and lignite gasification, including a ₹37,500-crore scheme for promotion of surface coal/lignite gasification projects.
For Coal India, gasification represents a diversification area that can enable coal to be used for applications beyond conventional power generation.
Power Sector Supplies and Railway Logistics
Coal supplies to the power sector are expected to remain an important part of the review. The discussions are likely to examine the coordination between mine production, coal evacuation and railway transportation.
Ensuring that production is effectively converted into dispatches will be particularly relevant as thermal power plants continue to depend on domestic coal supplies.
Coal India Enters Crucial Second Half of Financial Year
The review comes at an important stage of the financial year, with Coal India expected to focus on production growth, efficient evacuation and timely project execution.
The meeting is expected to bring production, dispatch, power-sector supplies, project progress, the Jharia Master Plan and diversification initiatives such as coal gasification together for review.
The outcomes could help set operational priorities for Coal India and its subsidiaries for the months ahead.
About Coal India Limited
Coal India Limited (CIL) is a Maharatna public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Coal and one of the world’s largest coal-producing companies. Headquartered in Kolkata, CIL operates through multiple subsidiaries across India’s major coal-producing regions and supplies coal primarily to the power, steel and other industrial sectors.
Read also: Coal India Signs Exploration Licence Deed for 209 Sq Km Rare Earth Block in Andhra Pradesh
