G. Kishan Reddy to Review Coal India Operations in Kolkata
Coal Minister’s two-day review to focus on production, dispatch, projects, Jharia Master Plan and coal gasification
Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy will undertake a two-day review of Coal India Limited’s operations in Kolkata, possibly on September 28 and 29, with the performance of the company and its subsidiaries expected to come under detailed scrutiny.
The review will bring together Coal India Chairman B. Sairam, CMDs of its subsidiary companies and senior officials of the Coal Ministry. Key areas on the agenda include coal production and dispatch, progress of major projects, supplies to the power sector, the Jharia Master Plan and coal gasification initiatives.
The review comes at a critical stage for Coal India as the company moves into the post-monsoon period, when production and evacuation traditionally gain momentum. The focus is expected to be on ensuring that higher production translates into higher dispatches, particularly to thermal power plants.
According to the Ministry of Coal, Coal India supplied 322.90 million tonnes of coal between April and August 2026, compared with 302.60 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year.
For Reddy, the review will also provide an opportunity to take stock of the performance of individual subsidiaries and the progress of projects aimed at expanding Coal India’s production capacity.
Coal gasification is expected to receive particular attention as the government pushes Coal India towards greater diversification and higher-value utilisation of domestic coal. The initiative is intended to reduce dependence on imported feedstocks for several industrial applications and create new avenues for coal utilisation beyond conventional power generation.
The Jharia Master Plan will be another important component of the review. The long-running programme involves dealing with underground coal fires, rehabilitation and resettlement, land issues and protection of mining areas in the Jharia coalfield.
The review is also expected to examine the company’s operational preparedness for the coming months, including mine-wise production, coal evacuation, railway logistics and supplies to power plants.
With Coal India remaining the country’s principal domestic source of thermal coal, Reddy’s review will effectively put production, dispatch, project execution and diversification on the same table.
The two-day exercise is likely to result in a fresh set of operational priorities for Coal India and its subsidiaries as the company enters the crucial second half of the financial year.
