Strive to Acquire New Mines
Seek Cooperation from Trade Unions for Change in Work Culture
Crucial Review of Coal India and Singareni by the Ministry of Coal
HYDERABAD, MAY 29, 2025: In the coming days, as part of achieving self-reliance in the energy sector, the Ministry of Coal, Government of India, has initiated efforts to ensure that public sector coal companies produce quality coal in line with rising demand. As part of this initiative, a crucial review meeting was conducted focusing on Coal India and Singareni.
The meeting provided key directions on reducing coal production costs, ensuring quality, and addressing challenges in supply and related areas. The video conference was chaired by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Mr G. Kishan Reddy, from New Delhi. Coal Secretary Mr Vikram Dev Dutt and other senior officials participated in the meeting.
On behalf of the Singareni, Chairman and Managing Director Mr N. Balram attended the meeting from Singareni Bhavan, Hyderabad. He gave a comprehensive presentation through PowerPoint on the company’s progress and future strategies.
Union Minister Mr Kishan Reddy emphasised the need to significantly reduce coal production costs without affecting workers’ salaries and welfare programs. He advised taking support from trade unions and improving the work culture. He also proposed the formation of a committee comprising Singareni officials and experts from the Ministry of Coal to explore ways of cost reduction. This committee will conduct field-level inspections, and its actionable recommendations should be implemented immediately to bring down production expenses. He stressed that to retain customers, Singareni must focus strongly on maintaining quality.
Coal Secretary Mr Vikram Dev Dutt highlighted that acquiring new mines is critical for the sustainability of coal companies. He noted that reducing production costs would make coal more affordable for consumers, which would, in turn, reduce electricity production costs and benefit the public at large.
The performance and welfare initiatives of both Coal India and Singareni mines were reviewed during this meeting. Directors of SCCL—D. Satyanarayana Rao (E&M), L.V. Suryanarayana Rao (Operations), K. Venkateshwarlu (P&P, PA), and Executive Director S.D.M. Subhani were among those who participated.
