Expressing confidence in Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), Shri PM Prasad, Chairman of Coal India Limited, stated that MCL is poised to surpass its annual production target of 204 million tonnes for the financial year 2023-24. He emphasized that not only Coal India but the entire country has high expectations from this subsidiary company based in Odisha for ensuring energy security.

During his first visit to MCL after assuming the position of Chairman, Coal India, Shri Prasad toured Ib Valley Coalfields in Jharsuguda district on Sunday. Later, he chaired a Review Meeting of the company at its headquarters.

Shri Prasad praised MCL's exceptional performance in recent years and expressed confidence that the leading subsidiary would successfully achieve its production target of 204 million tonnes for the current fiscal year.

The Review Meeting was attended by senior officers, including Shri JK Bohra, Director (Technical/Operations), Shri AK Behura, Director (Finance), and Shri AS Bapat, Director (Technical/Projects & Planning). Area General Managers from Ib Valley Coalfields and Talcher Coalfields joined the meeting via video-conference.

During his inspection of coal mining and despatch operations and upcoming infrastructure projects in Ib Valley Coalfields, Shri Prasad emphasized the importance of diversification initiatives, such as setting up more solar power plants and achieving net-zero emissions.

He urged MCL to make all-out efforts to ensure an adequate supply of coal to the country and advised them to explore the feasibility of underground projects and make them viable sources of energy.

Earlier, Shri Prasad chaired a meeting of the Corporate Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) of MCL and visited an upcoming Ib Valley Coal Washery under Lakhanpur Area, which is the largest non-coking coal washery of 10 MTPA in Coal India.

Additionally, he inspected the under-construction New Y-curve Railway Siding, which will facilitate increased coal dispatch from Samaleswari OCP of Ib Valley Area.