en.Wedoany.com Reported - Coal India Limited plans to invest nearly Rs 19 billion in research and development before the fiscal year 2030 to strengthen its innovation ecosystem, modernize mining operations, and support the transition to clean and efficient energy technologies.

The company will no longer limit itself to early-stage proof-of-concept studies but will focus on developing advanced technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 and above, to accelerate the process from lab to field application. To this end, Coal India has established the National Centre for Coal and Energy Research (NaCCER) in Jharkhand, which operates on a hub-and-spoke model to foster collaborative innovation.

This shift in R&D focus is reflected in increased spending. In FY2024-25, Coal India's R&D expenditure rose to Rs 2.45 billion, compared to just Rs 610 million in the previous fiscal year. The company has also expanded its collaboration with academic institutions, setting up Centers of Excellence at IIT Hyderabad, IIT Madras, and IIT (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad, with phased funding totaling Rs 2.53 billion, primarily for research on clean energy, sustainable mining practices, and advanced mining technologies.

Currently, Coal India is executing 19 R&D projects worth a total of Rs 2.25 billion, along with 13 pilot-scale projects. Research areas include carbon capture, coal gasification, rare earth element recovery, circular economy solutions, and sustainable mining. Additionally, the company is collaborating with research partners in Canada, Sweden, and Australia to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation mining and energy technologies.