Tarun Kapoor, Advisor to the Prime Minister, visited the headquarters of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) in Dhanbad from 31 August to 1 September 2026 to review the company’s operations, projects and future plans. The Ministry of Coal organized the high-level review meeting, which brought together senior officials from coal and related sectors to assess BCCL’s performance and strategic direction.
What was reviewed
The meeting examined BCCL’s coal production figures, operational capacity and reserves across its underground and opencast mines. Officials presented data on overburden removal activities over the past five years and discussed production targets extending to 2030-31.
The company’s mining technologies came under scrutiny, including current practices like Longwall Mining and Highwall Mining. BCCL outlined plans to introduce more advanced equipment such as Surface Miners and Continuous Miners to improve efficiency.
The restructuring of opencast blocks in the Jharia Coalfield was discussed, along with proposals to restart closed mines using the MDO (Mine Developer and Operator) or Revenue Sharing model. Officials also reviewed coal washing facilities and plans to increase washing capacity and improve coal quality.
During site visits, Kapoor inspected the Coal Bed Methane Block-I Project at Moonidih, which focuses on extracting CBM gas alongside coal mining. He also visited the Moonidih XVI Seam Longwall Project to observe mechanised underground mining operations. The ENA Fire Project in Kusunda Area was inspected to review fire management, safety measures and thermal and satellite-based monitoring systems used to detect and manage fires in coal mines.
Kapoor met with families living in high-risk areas affected by mining operations to discuss their safety and rehabilitation needs. On 1 September, he was scheduled to visit rehabilitation sites at Belgaria and Karmatand to review the Revised Jharia Master Plan.
What this means for you
BCCL supplies coking coal used in steel production, which affects the cost and availability of steel-based products for industry and construction. Improved mining efficiency and technology deployment could help secure India’s coking coal supply and reduce dependence on imports. The focus on fire management and rehabilitation of affected families indicates government attention to environmental and social concerns in mining areas, though outcomes remain to be seen.