Coal India's Ambitious Solar Energy Expansion

In a significant move towards renewable energy, state-owned Coal India Limited (CIL) has invested a total of Rs 1,209 crore in ground-mounted solar power projects with a capacity of 661 MW, as announced by the government on Monday.

CIL aims to achieve a solar project capacity of 3,000 MW by 2027-28, which includes 211.59 MW in the current fiscal year, 697.85 MW in FY26, 1,235 MW in FY27, and 785 MW in FY28, as stated by Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy in his response to the Rajya Sabha.

To ensure the timely execution of these solar projects, CIL has implemented various measures, including posting CIL Engineers at the project sites for effective monitoring and coordination with statutory authorities to expedite clearances.

Additionally, Singareni Collieries Company Ltd has invested Rs 1,182.60 crore in solar projects, while NLC India Ltd has spent Rs 6,723.59 crore on such projects. CIL currently accounts for over 80% of domestic coal production.