New Delhi, September 21, 2026: Coal India Ltd (CIL) plans to significantly increase its annual spending on research and development, targeting an outlay of ₹500 crore by FY2029-30 as the state-run miner expands its focus beyond conventional coal mining.
Under the planned roadmap, CIL’s R&D expenditure is set to rise from ₹225 crore in FY2026-27 to ₹350 crore in FY2027-28, ₹400 crore in FY2028-29 and ₹500 crore in FY2029-30. The company spent ₹183.88 crore on R&D in FY2025-26.
Focus on Technology and Critical Minerals
The increased spending will support research in areas including smart mining, artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT, mine safety, mineral exploration, clean coal technologies, waste-to-wealth and renewable energy. CIL is also pursuing opportunities in critical minerals and advanced materials.
The company’s current R&D portfolio includes 20 projects with an approved outlay of ₹231 crore. CIL is also working on an integrated graphite value chain covering mining, beneficiation, purification, spheronisation, coating and production of anode materials.
Push for Indigenous Technology
Coal India is placing greater emphasis on technologies that can move from research and testing toward demonstration and commercial deployment. Its R&D ecosystem includes collaborations with IITs, NITs, CSIR institutions, startups and industry partners.
The company is also expanding its diversification portfolio into coal gasification, coal-to-chemicals, renewable energy, battery storage, critical minerals and other areas.
The higher R&D allocation marks a broader technology-focused expansion of CIL’s activities, with the company seeking to develop domestic capabilities in mining technologies, minerals processing, energy systems and advanced materials.