Coal India Ltd (CIL) is set to strengthen its innovation ecosystem with a planned investment of nearly Rs 1,900 crore in research and development by FY2030, reinforcing its long-term strategy to modernise mining operations and support the transition towards cleaner and more efficient energy technologies.
As part of this initiative, the company is moving beyond early-stage proof-of-concept research to focus on developing advanced technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-4 and above, enabling faster progression from laboratory research to field-scale applications. A significant step in this direction is the establishment of the National Centre for Coal and Energy Research (NaCCER) in Jharkhand, which will function under a hub-and-spoke model to promote collaborative innovation.
Reflecting this renewed focus, CIL’s R&D expenditure increased substantially to Rs 245 crore in FY2024–25, compared with Rs 61 crore in the previous financial year. The company has also expanded its collaboration with leading academic institutions through Centres of Excellence at IIT Hyderabad, IIT Madras and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. Supported by phased funding of Rs 253 crore, these centres are engaged in research related to clean energy, sustainable mining practices and advanced mining technologies.
At present, Coal India is executing 19 research projects valued at Rs 225 crore alongside 13 pilot-scale initiatives. The research portfolio spans strategic areas such as carbon capture, coal gasification, recovery of rare earth elements, circular economy solutions and sustainable mining. In addition, the company is working with research partners in Canada, Sweden and Australia to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation mining and energy technologies.