Providing a New Direction for Singareni’s Future as a Mining Visionary in Just Two and a Half Years
- A strong foundation for Singareni through the Naini Coal Mine in Odisha.
- Tadicherla-II milestone paving the way for a brighter future.
- Persistent efforts to secure the Manuguru Dip Side Block.
- Encouraging Singareni’s entry into the critical minerals sector.
- Singareni secures exploration licence for gold and copper at Devadurga.
- Bhatti Vikramarka gives Singareni a new direction beyond coal mining.
HYDERABAD, JULY 26, 29026: He serves as the Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana and heads the Finance and Planning Department. While efficiently discharging these crucial responsibilities, he also serves as the Minister for Energy. Regardless of the portfolio, he has demonstrated remarkable administrative leadership by energising every department under his charge. Steering the Energy Department, which is central to Telangana’s energy security, he has laid a strong foundation for the state’s long-term energy future. Rather than settling for temporary solutions, he firmly believes in addressing problems at their roots and implementing sustainable, long-term reforms.
After the Indiramma Praja Government assumed office in Telangana two and a half years ago, he carefully studied the challenges confronting Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). Resolving those challenges became his primary objective. Instead of merely issuing directions from the Secretariat, he personally visited the field, interacted with stakeholders, and ensured that solutions were implemented on the ground.
Soon after the new government came to power, he held detailed discussions with Singareni’s senior management to understand the company’s needs. He realised that operationalising the long-pending Naini Coal Mine in Odisha, which had remained stagnant for nearly nine years, would provide a strong and sustainable future for Singareni. Acting immediately, he personally led the Singareni management to Odisha—a highly significant move. For the first time, a Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana travelled to another state exclusively to pursue the interests of Singareni. He met the Odisha Chief Minister and requested full cooperation for securing the required approvals.
His efforts did not end there. He personally visited Angul, where the Naini mine is located, met local public representatives as well as residents, and assured them that their development would remain a shared responsibility. This confidence-building exercise paved the way for rapid progress in Singareni’s expansion in Odisha. In 2025, he himself inaugurated coal production at the Naini Mine. This single initiative reflected his unwavering commitment to Singareni’s long-term sustainability and, above all, the future of its workforce.
He also examined the status of the Tadicherla-II Coal Block, which had been allotted to Singareni by the UPA Government in 2013. Upon learning that the mine had remained nonoperational for nearly a decade due to the absence of a mining lease, he immediately travelled to New Delhi on March 7, 2024, and met the then Union Minister for Coal, Shri Pralhad Joshi.
Thereafter, he repeatedly pursued the matter with the Union Coal Ministry. Along with the Chief Minister, he also appealed to the Prime Minister to facilitate a positive decision on Tadicherla-II. His persistent efforts over the last two years finally bore fruit when the mining lease for the block was granted this month.
His role in securing both the Naini and Tadicherla-II coal blocks stands as a remarkable example of his dedication towards Singareni’s long-term sustainability and the welfare of its employees.
For nearly 137 years, Singareni had been identified solely as a coal mining company. However, Bhatti Vikramarka recognized the company’s immense mining expertise, technical capabilities, and experienced workforce. He envisioned Singareni evolving beyond coal into the critical minerals sector. Under his guidance, Singareni initiated its first steps towards critical mineral exploration. As a result, the company successfully secured exploration licences for gold and copper deposits at Devadurga in Karnataka. This achievement transformed Singareni from being merely a coal producer into an emerging player in the critical minerals sector, reflecting his visionary leadership.
At the same time, he understood that securing one or two coal blocks alone would not be sufficient to safeguard the future of Singareni, its 40,000 employees, nearly 30,000 contract and ancillary workers, and the lakhs of families across six districts dependent on the company.
He also recognized that previous governments had effectively prevented Singareni from securing new coal blocks, allowing private players to acquire them instead. In response, he convened meetings with representatives of all recognized trade unions in Singareni. He explained in detail the losses suffered by the company due to its non-participation in coal block auctions and emphasized that the future of the company rested in their hands. After understanding the situation, all unions unanimously supported Singareni’s participation in future coal block auctions and urged the government to facilitate the company’s active participation.
This was a politically sensitive issue and one that could have easily become a point of criticism. Nevertheless, by clearly explaining the long-term implications, building consensus among all stakeholders, and publicly announcing Singareni’s participation in future coal block auctions, he safeguarded the company’s future.
His efforts did not stop there. He has also been tirelessly pursuing the allocation of the Koyagudem-III and Sathupalli-III coal blocks, which had already slipped away from Singareni, with the objective of bringing them back to the company.
Likewise, recognizing the importance of Manuguru’s future, he has been consistently guiding efforts to secure the Manuguru Dip Side Block for Singareni. He has repeatedly emphasized that merely securing coal blocks within Telangana is not enough and that Singareni should grow into an internationally recognized mining company. Following his guidance, Singareni has now submitted its bid for the Tara Coal Block in Chhattisgarh as well.
Despite the challenges created by the previous government’s failure to secure new coal blocks, resulting in stagnant production and pressure on Telangana’s energy requirements, he never lost confidence. Instead, he initiated a comprehensive strategy for Singareni’s expansion.
Unlike many earlier Energy Ministers who largely remained confined to office chambers and viewed coal only through official reports, Bhatti Vikramarka chose to understand mining firsthand. Determined to learn about coal production, coal quality, mining challenges, and the hardships faced by Singareni workers, he personally descended into underground and opencast mines in Sathupalli, Kothagudem, and Manuguru. He inspected coal grades, studied mining operations firsthand, and offered valuable guidance on maintaining coal quality. He also explained, at the field level, Singareni’s crucial role during El Niño conditions and stressed the importance of close coordination with Telangana GENCO to ensure uninterrupted power generation.
True leadership lies in recognizing an organization’s strengths and transforming them into assets for the state’s development. Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Shri Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu has been effectively utilizing Singareni’s immense capabilities to strengthen Telangana’s interests and enhance the state’s energy security.
He is not only identifying solutions to the challenges faced by Singareni but is also creating new opportunities for the company’s expansion through visionary planning and strategic decision-making. His encouragement has enabled Singareni to move confidently into multiple sectors, including new coal block acquisition, renewable energy projects, and critical mineral exploration.
Above all, he is striving to transform Singareni into a globally competitive mining enterprise by simultaneously focusing on three key priorities—the welfare of Singareni employees, the sustainable growth of the company, and the long-term energy security of Telangana.
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