History of Coal India

Coal India Limited (CIL) was founded on November 1, 1975. It operates as a prominent central public sector enterprise, falling under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Coal within the Government of India. Its headquarters are situated in Kolkata. This entity stands as the world's largest government-owned coal producer and is a substantial employer, boasting a workforce of approximately 2,72,000 individuals, ranking as the 9th largest employer in India. It plays a crucial role in India's coal production, contributing around 83% to the nation's total coal output. Coal India launched its IPO on October 18, 2010. Recognising its significance, CIL was granted the prestigious Maharatna status by the Government of India in April 2011, positioning it as one of the seven enterprises with this esteemed status. Furthermore, as of September 21, 2023, CIL's market capitalisation reached ₹1.75 lakh crore, solidifying its position among the Top 100 most valuable companies in India. It is noteworthy that CIL ranks 8th among the top 20 firms globally responsible for a significant portion of carbon emissions, highlighting its role in environmental considerations.

Business Segments

Coal India Limited has various products under the primary product of Coal, including:

• Coking Coal: This type of coal boasts a high carbon content and is primarily utilised in steelmaking to produce coke, a vital fuel.
• Semi-Coking Coal: Semi-coking coal contains a lower carbon content than coking coal but higher than non-coking coal. It is employed in coke production and various industrial applications.
• Non-Coking Coal: Non-coking coal lacks coking properties and finds application in thermal power plants, cement production, and diverse industrial processes.
• Washed Coal: This refers to coal that has undergone a coal washing or beneficiation process, resulting in reduced ash content and increased value.
• Middlings: Middlings are by-products obtained during the three-stage coal washing/beneficiation process, representing a fraction of the initial raw coal feed.
• Rejects: These are the products of the coal beneficiation process, separated from cleans and/or middlings, and constitute a portion of the raw coal feed.
• Coke: Coke is a pivotal fuel in steelmaking, derived from heating coking coal without exposure to air. Coal India Limited produces CIL Coke/LTC Coke, an eco-friendly, smokeless product obtained through low-temperature carbonisation.
• Other Coal-Based Products: Coal India Limited also manufactures coal tar, hard coke, and various other coal-based products, contributing to its diverse product range.

CIL operates via multiple subsidiaries, including Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI).

Key Personnel

• Pramod Agrawal, Managing Director & Chairman

Pramod Agrawal, a 1991 batch Indian Administrative Service Officer from the Madhya Pradesh Cadre, assumed the role of Chairman at Coal India Limited (CIL) on February 1, 2020. Before taking the helm at CIL, he served as the Principal Secretary for the Department of Technical Education, Skill Development & Employment, and the Department of Labor in the Madhya Pradesh Government.

Corporate Actions

Buyback

• Coal India received approval from its shareholders on September 9, 2016, for a buyback of 10.89 crore shares at a price of ₹335 each, totalling ₹3,650 crore.
• On February 4, 2019, the board of Coal India gave approved buyback, allowing the repurchase of a maximum of 4.47 crore shares, amounting to ₹1,050 crore at a rate of ₹235 per share. The approved proposal covers the buyback of up to 4,46,80,850 equity shares, which represent 0.72% of the total equity shares in the paid-up share capital.

Management Outlook

• CIL (Coal India Limited) has earmarked a capital investment of ₹16,600 crore to sustain its volume growth in the fiscal year 2023-24 and beyond. Additionally, substantial funds are allocated for various schemes in 2023-24, including railway infrastructure projects, solar power initiatives, thermal power plants, Coal Bed Methane (CBM), and the revival of fertiliser plants.
• To enhance its mechanised coal transportation and loading capabilities, CIL is executing the 'First Mile Connectivity' projects in three phases, with an estimated capital investment of approximately ₹24,250 crore. This initiative builds upon the existing 151 MTPA Rapid Loading capacity achieved by CIL in July 2019.
• CIL has a comprehensive strategy to achieve a 3000 MW target in the energy sector, including:
  • Developing solar projects on available land and rooftops at CIL subsidiaries.
  • Establishing solar projects in states with high solar potential, such as Rajasthan and Gujarat.
  • Participation in solar tenders offered by SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India), DISCOMs (Distribution Companies), and power exchanges.
• CIL has commissioned 7 FMC (First Mile Connectivity) Projects with a combined capacity of 92 MTPA, and it anticipates completing 17 more FMC projects during the current fiscal year 2023-24. CIL aims to operationalise all Phase-I, Phase-II, and Phase-III projects by FY 2028-2029, resulting in a cumulative Rapid Loading capacity of 914.5 MTPA.
• CIL has identified 37 closed, abandoned, or discontinued underground mines for operation through the MDO (Mine Development and Operation) route, with Letters of Acceptance (LoA) already issued for 10 of these mines.