Debasish Nanda serves as the Director of Business Development at Coal India Limited (CIL), India’s largest coal producer. Appointed in July 2022, he became the first to hold this pivotal role, tasked with steering CIL’s transformation amid the global shift towards sustainable energy.
Educational and Professional Background
Nanda’s academic credentials include a degree in Mechanical Engineering from UCE Burla (Sambalpur University), a postgraduate degree in Production Engineering from REC Rourkela, and a Master’s in International Business from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi.
His professional journey began in 1988 at Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) as a Management Trainee. Over 11 years, he advanced through the marketing division, focusing on Servo lubricants. In 1999, he transitioned to IOC’s Business Development Group, where he played a key role in expanding the company’s international presence and establishing subsidiaries. By 2009, Nanda was leading IOC’s natural gas division, overseeing a business with a turnover exceeding ₹20,000 crore. His tenure included chairing the US-India Energy Task Force and initiating pipeline RLNG exports to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He also served as the aggregator for high-pressure, high-temperature domestic gas for urea plants.
Strategic Initiatives at Coal India
At CIL, Nanda is at the forefront of diversifying the company’s portfolio to align with evolving energy demands. His initiatives encompass:
-
Coal Gasification: Establishing Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Ltd, a joint venture with BHEL, to produce ammonium nitrate for mining operations.
-
Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG): Collaborating with GAIL to develop a coal-to-SNG project in West Bengal, with an estimated investment of ₹25,000 crore.
-
Fertilizer Production: Leading the revival of three ammonia-urea plants through Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd (HURL), a joint venture with IOCL, NTPC, and others. These plants aim to produce 2,200 metric tonnes of ammonia and 3,850 metric tonnes of neem-coated urea daily.
-
Thermal and Renewable Energy: Planning a 4,000 MW thermal power project in Odisha and targeting 3,000 MW of solar power capacity by 2027–28, with an additional 2,000 MW under consideration.
-
Critical Minerals Exploration: Pursuing domestic and international ventures to secure resources like lithium, graphite, cobalt, and nickel, essential for battery manufacturing and energy storage.
-
Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs): Assessing 24 abandoned mine sites for potential conversion into PSPs to support energy storage solutions.
These diversification efforts are projected to boost CIL’s revenue by 18–20% by 2030, ensuring the company’s relevance in the future energy landscape.
Leadership Roles and Recognition
In addition to his role at CIL, Nanda was appointed Chairman of HURL in August 2022. Under his leadership, HURL has focused on meeting the urea requirements of farmers in eastern and northern India.
His tenure at CIL was extended in November 2023, reflecting confidence in his strategic vision and leadership.
Debasish Nanda’s strategic foresight and commitment to innovation are instrumental in guiding Coal India through a transformative era, balancing traditional energy production with sustainable and diversified ventures.