Additionally, the state-owned miner faces the stupendous task of substituting imports of thermal coal and also diversifying into new areas like aluminum and solar power. Pramod Agrawal, chairman-cum-managing director, Coal India Ltd., in an exclusive interview to Arindam Bandyopadhyay, charts out the way ahead for the world’s largest coal miner, confiding that CIL would remain a valuable company and a company with values in years to come.
At the outset, let me extend our best wishes to you and Coal India for 2021. What has been your experience in leading the world’s largest coal company so far?
So far the experience has been challenging and satisfying. Leading a company of the magnitude of Coal India (CIL) is a constant learning curve.
The company has an invisible yet undeniable presence in most of the industrial sectors of the country. CIL has an indelible significance in the country’s energy, economic and social fronts. It contributes to around 83 percent of the nation’s entire coal output. I don’t think there is any other industry or company that single-handedly adds to that humongous share to such particular product.
About 67 percent of India’s coal-based power generation comes from supplies linked to Coal India’s coal. We are one of the highest contributors to the government exchequer – both Centre and states through dividend, corporate tax and a slew of other duties and levies. But, Coal India also has a uniqueness beyond its numbers. Apart from our core operations we are also one of the largest spenders on Corporate Social Responsibility, which touches the lives of large sections of the society.
Leading a company imbued with such multiple hues is certainly a matter of pride.
This story is from the February 2021 edition of Coal Insights.
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This story is from the February 2021 edition of Coal Insights.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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