Coal India Limited (CIL) is ramping up its research and development ambitions in response to a rapidly evolving energy sector, outlining plans to invest around Rs. 1,900 crore in R&D by FY2030.

 

The state-run miner’s push gained fresh momentum in FY 2024–25 with the launch of the National Centre for Coal and Energy Research (NaCCER), built on a hub-and-spoke model. Since its rollout, CIL has moved away from early proof-of-concept work toward prototype development, targeting Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-4 and above.

 

“We intend to shift R&D to a higher orbit to drive the company's future growth and technological transformation,” a senior CIL official said.

 

R&D spending has already seen a sharp jump, rising nearly four-fold to Rs. 245 crore in FY 2024–25 from Rs. 61 crore in FY 2023–24. The Department of Public Enterprises requires central PSUs to spend an average of 1% of Profit Before Tax (PBT) on R&D over three years. CIL has also rolled out a structured R&D policy to streamline its innovation pipeline.

 

A major pillar of the strategy is closer industry-academia collaboration. CIL has set up three Centres of Excellence (CoEs) at leading IITs—Centre of Clean Coal Energy and Net Zero (CLEANZ) at IIT Hyderabad, Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) at IIT Madras, and Innovation in Mining (IMiN) at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. 

 

These CoEs operate as research spokes under NaCCER, focusing on pilot-scale studies, prototype development, and technology validation. CIL has committed Rs. 253 crore to these centres in phased funding.

 

At present, 19 R&D projects with an outlay of Rs. 225 crore are underway under NaCCER’s direct oversight, alongside 13 additional pilot-scale and prototype development projects being executed through the CoEs.

 

The research portfolio spans multiple strategic domains. CLEANZ is working on clean coal and net-zero technologies, including enhanced coal bed methane recovery, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, mineral beneficiation, recovery of rare earth elements and critical minerals, high-ash coal gasification, and syngas utilisation.

 

CSE is focused on sustainable materials, circular economy models, mine repurposing, environmental remediation, feasibility studies on micro modular nuclear reactors, and advanced wastewater treatment technologies. IMiN is building research capacity through fellowships while addressing mining challenges jointly identified with industry stakeholders.