Coal India Limited (CIL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) to establish the Centre for Clean Coal Energy and Net Zero (CLEANZ) in Hyderabad. The centre aims to advance the development of clean coal technologies and diversify the use of coal.
The collaboration will focus on creating advanced technology solutions for the sustainable utilization of Indian coal, aligning with the country’s commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions, according to a statement. The Union Ministry of Coal has been actively encouraging the growth of research capabilities in the coal sector. The MoU was officially signed by P. M. Prasad, Chairman of CIL, and Prof. B. S. Murty, Director of IIT-H, with Union Minister of Coal & Mines G. Kishan Reddy in attendance on Friday.
As part of the agreement, CIL will provide ₹98 crore in funding over five years to support the establishment of this Centre of Excellence. The project is expected to become financially self-sustaining after the initial funding period.
CIL’s board had previously approved grants to prominent government institutions and research organizations for research and development in July 2024. The partnership is part of the National Centre for Coal and Energy Research (NaCCER), an independent research unit under CMPDI, CIL’s mine development and consultancy arm.
CLEANZ will focus on key areas such as enhanced coal bed methane and coal mine methane recovery, carbon capture technologies, coal gasification, syngas utilization, energy efficiency, and conservation. It will also explore artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in these fields. At the signing event, the Minister of Coal emphasized the strategic importance of critical minerals to the economy, noting that IIT-H is at the forefront of cutting-edge research in this area. The ministry has pledged support for the project’s success.
Coal India Limited (CIL), a ‘Maharatna’ company under the Ministry of Coal, Government of India, is headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal, and stands as the world’s largest coal producer. CIL operates in 84 mining areas across eight Indian states, managing 313 active mines, including 131 underground, 168 opencast, and 14 mixed mines.
