Coal India Limited (CIL) is building a portfolio beyond coal mining, organised around five platforms: coal gasification and coal-to-chemicals; thermal power; renewable energy and storage; critical minerals and advanced materials; and diversified minerals, including iron ore. It already includes about ₹69,346 crore across four coal-to-chemicals initiatives, a 2x800 MW ultra-supercritical expansion at Chandrapura, around 550 MW of commissioned solar capacity, grid-scale battery storage and critical-mineral opportunities.
CIL describes its guiding principle as "diversification with purpose": energy and mineral security, import substitution, indigenous technology, low-carbon growth and resilient domestic manufacturing, while maintaining commercial sustainability and risk-adjusted returns. It cites its nationwide footprint, project-development experience, land and coal resources and balance sheet as the base for this.
The four coal-to-chemicals initiatives are:
Technology priorities include adapting processes to high-ash Indian coal, localising critical equipment and better water, ash and emissions management. Replication will be pursued only after operating data and commercial performance are verified.
CIL says Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is not yet commercially proven globally. A phased pilot is under way at the Kasta West Block of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). Phase I was completed on 31 May 2025 and Phase II began on 20 June 2025. It covers detailed engineering, directional drilling, injection and production wells, and ignition and control systems, and is due for completion in 2026.
At Chandrapura, Jharkhand, CIL and Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) are implementing the 2x800 MW brownfield expansion through a proposed 50:50 joint venture, with DVC facilitating the sale of power. CIL is also developing a 20 MW AC floating solar project at Chilwa Taal, Gorakhpur.
In Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), the TGGENCO Choutuppal project in Telangana (187.5 MW/750 MWh, four hours) has been awarded to CIL, and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) selection is in progress. An Odisha portfolio of 80 MW/320 MWh across four locations has been secured through the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), and its EPC tender has been issued.
In critical minerals, CIL lists graphite assets in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and rare earth and rare-metal opportunities in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. It is working with Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), the Non-Ferrous Technology Development Centre (NFTDC), Curtin University, Hindustan Copper and State entities. A demonstration plant for coated spherical purified graphite of at least 99.95% purity has been proposed, with NFTDC as a qualification platform.
CIL names several risks. Floating solar needs site-specific screening for water levels, bathymetry, wind and waves, anchoring and ecology. BESS returns depend on high availability, dependable state-of-charge management and compliance with dispatch requirements.
It plans a stage-gated approach covering technology, market, execution, ESG, supply-chain, cyber and capability risks. Responses include pilot validation with independent review, customer qualification and offtake arrangements, and detailed project reports. A common stage-gate model will run from opportunity screening through concept validation, feasibility, contracting and demonstration to commercial operation. Performance indicators will cover project delivery, MW and MWh capacity, import substitution, risk-adjusted returns and ESG outcomes.
CIL's R&D framework has moved from the Standing Committee on Science and Technology of 1975 to the R&D Board of 1994 and the Apex Committee of 2003. It now rests on the R&D Policy and Guidelines of 2026, which prioritise projects at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 and above.
NaCCER is the independent nodal agency at the centre of a hub-and-spoke network of CIL Centres of Excellence, IITs, NITs, CSIR laboratories, start-ups and industry partners. CIL funds centres at IIT Madras (₹87.90 crore), IIT Hyderabad (₹98 crore) and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad (₹67.45 crore and ₹10 crore).
The portfolio has 20 projects with an approved outlay of ₹231 crore. R&D spending was ₹61.31 crore in FY 2023-24, ₹245.38 crore in FY 2024-25 and ₹183.88 crore in FY 2025-26. Planned spending rises from ₹225 crore in FY 2026-27 to ₹500 crore in FY 2029-30.
The Business Development Division, as enterprise integrator, is to prepare a unified diversification and technology roadmap with accountable sponsors, standard technical, financial and ESG evaluation templates, and demonstration projects with predefined success criteria and independent validation. On the research side, CIL aims to strengthen NaCCER, scale up the hub-and-spoke network and speed the move from research to deployment. Discussions are on for new Centres of Excellence with IIIT Roorkee and IIT Kharagpur.
With reference to the coal-to-chemicals initiatives of Coal India Limited (CIL), consider the following pairs:
Initiative : Proposed output
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Consider the following statements regarding the diversification plans of Coal India Limited:
Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?
With reference to the research and development framework of Coal India Limited, which one of the following statements is not correct?
