Pootkee Balihari: Coal India's MDO Model Takes Center Stage

Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd (CIL), has resumed operations at the long-dormant Pootkee Balihari (PB) mine in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. This marks the first operational mine under the Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) model within the CIL framework.

Awarded to Eagle Infra India for a 25-year term, the PB mine is expected to produce a total of 52 million tonnes of coking coal, with a peak rated capacity of 2.7 million tonnes annually. Coking coal is a critical input for India’s steel and infrastructure industries.

The revival of the PB project is part of a broader strategy to reduce India’s reliance on imported coking coal and unlock value from underutilized coal assets through private-sector participation. The project is also set to introduce advanced mining technologies, generate local employment, and stimulate regional economic development.

Virtually inaugurating the mine, Coal India Chairman PM Prasad hailed it as a “pioneering step” in transforming legacy coal assets. The PB mine is a flagship initiative under Mission Coking Coal, aimed at strengthening domestic coking coal supply.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.