Coal India Limited has announced plans to invest around Rs 1,900 crore on R&D activities by FY2030 as the company sharpens its R&D focus to respond to the evolving energy landscape.
CIL's transformational R&D thrust accelerated in FY 2024-25 with establishment of the National Centre for Coal and Energy Research (NaCCER), operating on a hub-and-spoke model. The company has shifted focus from proof-of-concept studies to prototype development at Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-4 and above.
CIL's R&D expenditure increased four-fold to Rs 245 crore in FY 2024-25, up from Rs 61 crore in FY 2023-24. Three Centres of Excellence were established at IIT Hyderabad (Centre for Clean Coal Energy and Net Zero), IIT Madras (Centre for Sustainable Energy) and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad (Innovation in Mining).
These centres function as research spokes under NaCCER, with Rs 253 crore committed for phased releases. At present, 19 R&D projects with total outlay of Rs 225 crore are executed under NaCCER oversight, while 13 research projects are underway at the Centres of Excellence.
International collaborations include Ergo Exergy in Canada for underground coal gasification, Ericsson in Sweden for 5G implementation at Jhanjra mine, and CSIRO in Australia for collaborative research advancement.
The centres focus on clean coal energy, net-zero technologies including carbon capture, rare earth element recovery, sustainable materials circular economy, mine repurposing, and advanced wastewater treatment technologies for environmental remediation.
Disclaimer: This article is based on company filings submitted to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation. Investors should conduct their own research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.