Government asks Coal India to Invest in Electric Vehicles

Ministry of Coal, Govt. of India, has asked state-run Coal India Ltd. (CIL) to diversify to areas such as electric vehicles and charging stations.

A document titled “Ministry of Coal’s agenda for 2021-22” on the Coal Ministry’s website stated “Coal India must diversify its business and must explore prospects in sunrise industries electric charging pods, electric vehicles etc.” 

CIL produces around 80% of the Coal mined in India. CIL itself uses over 400 million litres of diesel per annum, with an annual expense of over Rs 3,500 crore. If CIL enters the Electric Vehicles and charging stations business, there is a huge demand at its various mines for EV adoption. Already an Indian miner Hindustan Zinc Ltd. has started process of adopting EVs.