South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) aims to expand the capacity of its Gevra mine to 70 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) by the end of the current fiscal year, making it the world's largest coal producing site, according to the company's Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Prem Sagar Mishra. The Gevra mine, located in Korba, Chhattisgarh, is currently the world's fourth largest coal mine. Mishra stated that while two of the largest coal mines are situated in the US and one in Indonesia, SECL is focused on expanding Gevra to achieve this significant milestone.

During the financial year 2022-23, the Gevra mine surpassed its annual coal production target by producing 52.5 million metric tons. Mishra expressed the company's goal to achieve the 70 MTPA target by the end of the ongoing fiscal year, pending the receipt of environmental clearances, which are anticipated to be obtained by mid-year. SECL has applied for environmental clearances for an excavation capacity of approximately 20 million metric tons.

Mishra provided details about the Gevra mine, describing it as an open cast mine spanning an area of 27 square kilometers with a depth of around 600 meters. The mine currently extracts approximately 150,000 metric tons of coal daily. SECL is also constructing a railway corridor to connect Gevra to Pendra Road and is in the process of installing two silos and a 20 million metric ton per year coal handling plant in the Gevra mine region. These infrastructure developments aim to enhance the efficiency of loading and transportation, reducing loading time and improving coal supplies.

SECL, headquartered in Bilaspur, is one of the top three coal-producing subsidiaries of Coal India Ltd (CIL), operating 67 blocks. In the fiscal year 2022-23, CIL's total coal output reached 703.21 million metric tons, with SECL contributing 167 million metric tons.