THE POLICY EDGE
Policy Bites

1 November 2025

Coal India Launches Coal Atlas & AI-Powered Control Centre; Marks 50 Years with 10-Fold Output Growth

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Ministry of Coal MoC

Coal India Limited (CIL) has unveiled a suite of technology- and data-driven initiatives to modernise coal mining and strengthen resource planning. The flagship launch is the Coal Atlas, developed by CMPDI, which provides high-resolution geological mapping, updated coal-block data, and improved exploration intelligence to support investors, planners and policymakers.

CIL also inaugurated an AI-enabled Integrated Control & Command Centre (ICCC) at Eastern Coalfields Limited, offering real-time mine surveillance, productivity tracking, equipment monitoring and safety oversight. Two new Mine Developer & Operator (MDO) projects — Gopinathpur and Chinakuri — were launched under a revenue-sharing model, marking continued expansion of coal production capacity alongside digital transformation.

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-

These initiatives come as CIL enters its 51st year. Over five decades, the company’s coal production has increased ten-fold — from 79 MT in 1975 to 781 MT in FY 2024-25 — underscoring its central role in India’s energy security as it transitions toward digitisation, safety-led mining and cleaner pathways.

These initiatives signal a shift in India’s coal operations toward automation, precision resource planning, transparent governance and operational safety, aligning traditional energy infrastructure with data-centric and climate-aligned planning pathways.

As India balances energy security with decarbonisation, AI-enabled surveillance, digital mapping and modern mining models help increase productivity, reduce risk, and support cleaner, monitored operations, laying groundwork for diversification into critical minerals, coal gasification and renewables.

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-

Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can India accelerate the rollout of digital command centres and resource-mapping tools across coal mines to enhance safety, efficiency, transparent monitoring and low-carbon mining practices while meeting energy-security needs?

Follow the full news here:

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-


Rethinking Public Policy Through Insight | Inquiry | Impact

Opinion • Grassroots Voices • Policymakers Perspectives • Expert Analysis • Policy Briefs