Coal India Ltd (CIL) plans to invest around ₹1,900 crore in research and development (R&D) by FY30 as it accelerates technology-led transformation, focusing on clean coal technologies, mining innovation, digitalisation and sustainability.
The state-owned coal miner said its R&D initiatives have gathered momentum following the establishment of the National Centre for Coal and Energy Research (NaCCER), which serves as the company’s central research hub under a hub-and-spoke model.
R&D spending rises sharply
Coal India increased its R&D expenditure four-fold to ₹245 crore in FY25, compared with ₹61 crore in FY24, reflecting its intensified focus on innovation.
The company has also formulated a comprehensive R&D policy to create a structured innovation framework in line with the Department of Public Enterprises’ mandate of spending an average of 1% of the preceding three years’ profit before tax on research and development.
A senior Coal India official said, “We intend to shift R&D to a higher orbit to drive the company’s future growth and technological transformation.”
Focus shifts to prototype development
CIL said it has moved beyond proof-of-concept studies and is now concentrating on prototype development corresponding to Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-4 and above, enabling faster commercialisation of emerging technologies.
The company is currently executing 19 R&D projects worth ₹225 crore through leading scientific institutions under the direct supervision of NaCCER.
Additionally, 13 pilot-scale research and prototype development projects are underway through Centres of Excellence established with premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
IIT collaborations strengthen innovation ecosystem
To strengthen industry-academia collaboration, Coal India has established three Centres of Excellence with premier IITs. These include the Centre of Clean Coal Energy and Net Zero (CLEANZ) at IIT Hyderabad, the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) at IIT Madras and the Innovation in Mining (IMiN) centre at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
Coal India has committed ₹253 crore, to be released in phases, for these centres.
The facilities will undertake pilot-scale research, technology validation and prototype development across strategic areas.
Research spans clean energy and advanced mining
The company’s research portfolio covers clean coal technologies, enhanced coal bed methane recovery, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), high-ash coal gasification, syngas utilisation, mineral beneficiation and recovery of rare earth elements and critical minerals.
Other focus areas include sustainable construction materials, circular economy solutions, mine repurposing, environmental remediation, advanced wastewater treatment and feasibility studies for micro modular nuclear reactors.
The Innovation in Mining centre at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad is working on mining technologies, research fellowships and solutions to operational challenges across Coal India’s mines.
International partnerships expand technology capabilities
Coal India has also entered into international collaborations to accelerate technology adoption. The company is working with Ergo Exergy of Canada on an underground coal gasification project at Eastern Coalfields Ltd, Ericsson of Sweden for deployment of 5G technology at the Jhanjra underground mine, and CSIRO of Australia on collaborative research initiatives.
The company said these partnerships are expected to strengthen its technological capabilities while supporting safer, more efficient and environmentally sustainable mining operations.