Coal India has declared 2026 as a year of major reform and transformation, with a strong focus on increasing coal output and improving coal quality. The company is investing heavily in technology, infrastructure and operational reforms to support India’s growing energy demand. Coal will continue to play a central role in the country’s energy mix for decades, with Coal India remaining a key supplier.
Coal India Chairman and Managing Director P M Prasad Sairam said the company is following a 360-degree reform agenda. This includes mechanised loading to ensure accurate quantity and quality, digitalisation for modernisation, stronger safety standards and faster coal evacuation through dedicated rail infrastructure.
“The twin priorities are increased output and improved supplies of quality coal,” Sairam said in an interview. He added that coal will remain “at the top of the energy mix” in the near-to-medium term as India works to meet its energy aspirations.
India’s electricity demand continues to grow at a strong pace, with coal-based power generation contributing about 70 per cent of total electricity output. Rising industrial activity and peak power demand have made reliable coal supply and efficient evacuation critical for the country’s energy security.
To support this, Coal India has invested in major rail lines across Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand. These three states together account for nearly two-thirds of the company’s one billion tonne production programme, the CMD said.
Alongside core coal operations, Coal India is also diversifying into solar power and critical minerals. The company has engaged mine developer-cum-operators (MDOs) to ramp up production and revive output from discontinued mines under a revenue-sharing model, Sairam added.
