“From Mine Trenches to Boardroom Triumph: The Journey of P.M. Prasad, CMD of Coal India”

By Metals Minerals Publication On Jun 28, 2025

Polavarapu Mallikharjuna Prasad, commonly known as P.M. Prasad, became the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Coal India Limited (CIL) on 1 July 2023, succeeding Pramod Agrawal With more than 38 years of experience in mining and energy, his appointment followed a successful tenure as CMD of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) since September 2020

🎓 Strong Academic Foundation & Early Career

Education: Mining Engineer from Osmania University; M.Tech in Open‑Cast Mining from Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad; First‑class Mines Manager Certificate from DGMS (1988); and an LL.B. from Nagpur University (1997)
Career Start: Joined Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) as an executive trainee in 1984, later serving roles in Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and WCL

🏆 Landmark Achievements & Climbing the Ranks

Reopening the DRC Mines: In 1994–95, led efforts that revived the DRC underground mines after a fire, earning him the Best Mines Manager award from the Ministry of Coal and CIL
Senior Roles: Served as General Manager, then Executive Director (Coal Mining) at NTPC (2015) and Director Technical at Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) in 2018. In August 2019, became CMD of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL)

📈 Leadership at CCL & Now Coal India

At CCL, Prasad steered production growth despite pandemic turbulence, achieving a ~10% compound annual growth rate by FY 2021–22 and launching major projects like Amrapali‑Chandragupta and Magadh‑Sanghamitra; he also championed eco-initiatives such as large-scale solar parks and eco-parks

As CIL CMD, Prasad has continued this momentum:

In FY 2023–24, CIL produced 773.6 Mt, marking a 10% year-on-year increase, while Q1 FY 2024–25 hit 175.5 Mt, a record for any quarter
He announced a transformational investment of ₹91,000 cr by FY 2025–26 to ramp up coal gasification, mining developer operator (MDO) projects, and railway sidings
His vision includes reaching 1 billion tonnes of coal output by FY 2026–27 through increased mechanization and infrastructure enhancements

🌍 Sustainability & Infrastructure Modernization

Under Prasad’s leadership, CIL is integrating eco-friendly methods across its operations:

Environment-first mining: Over 57% of open-cast mining now uses surface miners; vibro-rippers are employed for overburden removal to mitigate dust and blasting pollution
Green cover expansion: Over 2,167 hectares planted in FY 2024.
Renewable integration: ₹3,000 MW solar capacity by 2028 (with plans to add another 2,000 MW)
Logistics enhancement: 24 rail sidings, 72 conveyor projects, and strengthened transport infrastructure to support mine evacuation

🚀 A Visionary at the Helm

From rehabilitating underground mines to steering India’s largest coal company in a cleaner, more mechanized direction, P.M. Prasad’s journey reflects unwavering commitment and strategic foresight. His leadership is setting the stage for Coal India to meet national coal demands, drive industrial growth, and support India’s energy-secure future.