Technology Transforming Coal India’s Mining Operations

Coal India embraces cutting‑edge technologies—from gasification and renewables to AI‑driven mining—to redefine energy security and sustainable growth.

Coal India Limited (CIL) is undergoing a remarkable transformation, evolving from a conventional coal‑mining enterprise into a diversified, technology‑driven energy and materials powerhouse. At the heart of this transition lies a suite of advanced technologies reshaping mining operations, energy generation, and resource utilisation.

Coal Gasification and Underground Innovation

Coal gasification is redefining how coal is used, converting it into synthesis gas (syngas) for producing synthetic natural gas, ammonia, urea, methanol, and other chemicals. CIL’s four flagship coal‑to‑chemicals projects, worth nearly ₹69,346 crore, are designed to unlock chemical value from India’s high‑ash coal while supporting import substitution.

CIL is also piloting Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) at the Kasta West Block of Eastern Coalfields. This phased project involves directional drilling, injection and production wells, and advanced ignition systems, aiming to convert deep‑seated, unmineable coal into syngas.

Smart Thermal Power and Renewable Integration

CIL’s joint venture with Damodar Valley Corporation is deploying ultra‑supercritical technology at Chandrapura, Jharkhand, ensuring higher efficiency, predictive maintenance, and flexible plant operations.
On the renewable front, CIL has already commissioned 550 MW of solar capacity and is developing innovative projects such as a 20 MW floating solar plant at Chilwa Taal, Gorakhpur. Digital monitoring, lifecycle risk assessments, and hybrid storage solutions are being integrated to maximise performance.

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

To stabilise renewable integration, CIL is investing in grid‑scale BESS projects. The TGGENCO Choutuppal project in Telangana (187.5 MW/750 MWh) and Odisha’s 80 MW/320 MWh portfolio exemplify how advanced storage technologies will support peak‑demand management and grid flexibility.

Critical Minerals and Advanced Materials

CIL is venturing into graphite and rare earth elements (REEs), vital for batteries, EVs, and advanced manufacturing. A proposed demonstration plant for coated spherical purified graphite (CSPG) with 99.95% purity highlights the company’s ambition to build an integrated graphite value chain.

Digital Architecture and Risk Management

Mining operations are being digitised through enterprise data rooms, GIS‑based opportunity mapping, portfolio dashboards, and digital engineering. A stage‑gate model ensures  disciplined execution from concept validation to commercial operation.

Risk management spans technology, market, ESG, and cyber risks, with responses including pilot validation, customer qualification, lifecycle assessments, and operational technology security.

Research and Development Ecosystem

CIL’s R&D initiatives are central to its technological leap. With 20 projects worth ₹231 crore, the focus areas include AI‑driven exploration, IoT‑enabled smart mining, bifacial perovskite solar cells, and 5G captive networks for mines.

Centres of Excellence at IIT Madras, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad are pioneering sustainable energy, clean coal technologies, and Mining 4.0. Achievements include five patent filings and the commercialisation of advanced detonation measurement equipment.

Conclusion

Coal India’s technology‑led diversification is reshaping the future of coal mining. From gasification and smart power plants to renewable integration, advanced materials, and AI‑driven mining, the company is positioning itself as a global leader in energy security and technological self‑reliance.

IIT Hyderabad and Mahindra University Collaborate on Critical Minerals, AI in Mining, and Start-up Incubation

• Collaboration to advance research, education, and innovation in Critical Minerals, Mining technologies, and Sustainable industrial processes
• Mahindra University to serve as a SPOKE Institute for IIT Hyderabad’s Centre of Excellence in Critical Minerals
• Focus on Mining 4.0, AI-driven Mining, Autonomous Systems, and Start-up incubation aligned with national priorities

Mahindra University and the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a long-term partnership in research, education, training, and innovation, with a strong emphasis on Critical Minerals, Sustainable Mining, and Advanced industrial processes.

The collaboration aims to strengthen India’s capabilities in Critical Mineral exploration and processing—an area of growing national importance—by combining Mahindra University’s interdisciplinary academic approach with IIT Hyderabad’s strong research ecosystem. The partnership will span frontier domains including Iron ore beneficiation, Coal and mineral processing, Ironmaking and Steelmaking, Mining waste utilisation for infrastructure, extraction of Critical and Rare Earth Minerals, and Process modelling and simulation.

Beyond conventional mining research, the MoU also covers emerging areas such as AI and data analytics in Mining, Mining 4.0, Autonomous systems including Drones and Self-driving vehicles, and Incubation support for Start-ups and Innovators. These efforts are designed to translate advanced research into scalable technologies and skilled human capital for India’s Mineral and Manufacturing sectors.

Under the agreement, Mahindra University will function as a SPOKE institute for a Centre of Excellence (CoE) at IIT Hyderabad, enabling structured collaboration between faculty, researchers, and students of both institutions. The engagement will be operationalised through joint research projects, faculty and student exchanges, and shared access to laboratories and academic infrastructure.

The Ministry of Mines, GoI, has recognized 7 institutes – 4 IITs and 3 R&D Labs – as Centres of Excellence (CoE) under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and IIT Hyderabad is one among the 4 IITs. The recognition of CoEs is an important step for fulfilling a key objective of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which is research and technology development in Critical Minerals.

Speaking on the partnership, Dr. Yajulu Medury, Vice Chancellor, Mahindra University, said that the collaboration directly addresses national priorities related to India’s Critical Mineral mission and promotes sustainable, indigenous technological solutions through research-led education.

Prof. B S Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad, noted that India’s transition towards self-reliance in Critical Minerals and resource-efficient industrial processes requires sustained academic collaboration. He said the partnership would expand IITH’s research and training ecosystem, enabling multidisciplinary engagement and the translation of scientific knowledge into real-world technologies and skilled manpower.

The MoU places strong emphasis on capacity building and skill development, with planned initiatives including specialised training programmes for Mining professionals, elective and certificate courses in the Critical Minerals sector, a proposed master’s programme in Minerals and Coal processing, and short-duration programmes for working professionals. The collaboration also envisages seed support and incubation for Start-ups and MSMEs, along with engagement with venture capital firms to support commercialisation of research outcomes.

Designed as a long-term engagement governed by the academic frameworks of both institutions, the partnership seeks to advance knowledge, nurture skilled professionals, and support Atmanirbhar Bharat by strengthening India’s leadership in Critical Minerals and Sustainable industrial technologies.

About Mahindra University:

Mahindra University, Hyderabad (India), is a multidisciplinary, private university with a vision of “Educating future citizens for and of a better world”. It aims to play a significant role in driving globally acclaimed innovation in higher education in the coming years. Mahindra University’s special focus is on generating new knowledge through engagement in cutting-edge research, creating a spirit of research and discovery, experiential learning and entrepreneurship, whilst forging collaborations with industry and global academic institutions. The university is established by the Mahindra Group, one of the largest and most admired multinational federations of companies with presence in over 100 countries and with a turnover of over 25 billion.

The group, built on 80 years of legacy, has more than 3,24,000 employees globally. Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., its flagship company, is a global leader in mobility products and farm solutions and is the world's largest tractor company by volume. It is also India’s #1 tractor company, #1 electric 3-wheeler company, with strong businesses across financial services and IT services worldwide.

About IIT Hyderabad:

IITH, established in 2008, has reached a respectable position in academics, research, technology development, and Start-ups in a short span of 17 years. In the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF-2025), IITH is ranked 7th among Engineering institutes (crossing a first-generation IIT this year), and is ranked 6th in Innovation, while it has maintained its rank within the top 10 Engineering Institutes ever since NIRF was launched. IITH is ranked 664th and 270th in the QS World and Asian University Rankings 2026, respectively (among the top 10% of global institutions in citations per faculty). IITH secured 46 positions by 31 faculties in the Global Top 2% Scientists World list 2025 released by Stanford University (SU) in collaboration with Elsevier across two categories. IITH has been striving for excellence with a motto of "Inventing & Innovating in Technology for Humanity (IITH)".

With 340+ full-time Faculty, 360 non-teaching Staff and 5,700+ Students (PG+PhD students accounting for about 60%), IITH has a strong research focus with 5260+ R&D Projects worth of Rs. 1650+ Cr (Rs. 335+ Cr funding in 2024-25, i.e. Rs. 1+ Cr per Faculty, one of the largest per capita funding among IITs), 12,890+ Publications, 2,48,580+ Citations, 154 h-index, 710+ Patents (250 Patents in 2025, making it 0.75 patents per faculty in 2025), and about 335+ Start-ups (that have generated 1100+ jobs with a revenue of Rs. 1500+ Cr).