Mahanadi Coalfield Ltd (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd (CIL), is gearing up to begin operations in two new coal mines within the Talcher coalfield area of Odisha’s Angul district. The mines, named Subhadra and Balabhadra, possess coal reserves of 25 million tonnes (MT) and 10 MT, respectively. The Subhadra mine is slated to become operational by the conclusion of the financial year 2025-26, while the Balabhadra mine is projected to commence operations by the end of the financial year 2029-30. MCL currently manages 18 coal mines across the Angul, Sundargarh, and Jharsuguda districts. These include three underground and 15 open-cast mines. To enhance operational transparency, MCL has implemented extensive CCTV coverage across 98% of its operational areas, with full coverage expected imminently. The company also employs AI for real-time tracking of its GPS-enabled coal transport vehicles. In the fiscal year 2024-25, MCL achieved a coal production of 225 MT, representing a 9% increase compared to the previous year, and dispatched 210 MT, marking a 6% rise. The company is dedicated to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by FY 2029 and has invested ₹17,900 crore in renewable energy initiatives, including solar, wind, and pumped storage projects. The company’s strategic target is to produce 239 MT of coal in FY 2026, with an ambitious goal of reaching 300 MT by FY 2029-30.
