Bilaspur, February 21: A four-day National Media Press Tour is being organised at South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) from February 20 to 23, 2026, under the aegis of the Ministry of Coal, Government of India. The delegation arrived in Bilaspur on Thursday and held an interaction with the senior management at SECL Headquarters.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Harish Duhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD), SECL, underlined the continuing significance of coal in India’s energy matrix. He stated that coal remains the backbone of the country’s energy requirements, with more than 70 per cent of India’s electricity generation dependent on coal.
He said that under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G Kishan Reddy, SECL remains committed to meeting the nation’s growing energy demand. Contributing nearly 20 per cent of India’s total coal production, SECL plays a pivotal role in ensuring national energy security, he added.
Highlighting the company’s alignment with the Government of India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India, the CMD informed that SECL is actively deploying indigenous mining machinery across its operations. The introduction of Continuous Miners in underground mines is facilitating blast-free coal extraction, thereby enhancing safety and productivity. In opencast mines, the use of surface miners is promoting environmentally responsible mining practices.
He further stated that the implementation of First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects is ensuring mechanised and eco-friendly coal evacuation, significantly reducing dependence on road transportation and curbing associated emissions.
On the sustainability front, Shri Duhan shared that SECL has set a target of developing 700 MW of solar power capacity by 2028-29. The initiative reflects the company’s commitment to contributing to India’s renewable energy goals while responsibly meeting conventional energy needs.
Speaking on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), he noted that SECL continues to make meaningful contributions in coalfield regions of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Through flagship initiatives such as “SECL Ki Dhadkan” and “SECL Ke Sushrut”, the company is strengthening healthcare and education in underserved areas. The programmes focus on providing life-saving treatment to children with congenital heart defects, offering quality coaching support to medical aspirants, and enhancing skill development and educational infrastructure across coal belt regions.
The delegation from the Ministry of Coal included Shri Robin Gangte, Deputy Secretary; Shri Neelesh Kumar Joshi, APS to the Union Minister of Coal & Mines; Shri Shuhaib T, Chief of Media & Communications; Shri Gourav Gupta and Ms Archana Garima from the Media Team of the Ministry, along with other senior officials.
Senior journalists representing prominent national and regional media organisations including DD News, The Hindu, Zee Business, Business Today, V6 News, Andhra Jyothi and NTV were present during the interaction.
From SECL, besides the CMD, Shri N Franklin Jayakumar, Director (Technical/Operations), Shri Himanshu Jain, Chief Vigilance Officer, and senior Heads of Departments attended the programme.
The press tour aims to provide the visiting media delegation with first-hand exposure to SECL’s mining operations, green initiatives, renewable energy projects, first-mile connectivity infrastructure and CSR interventions. Through this engagement, SECL reiterated its commitment to transparency, responsible mining, environmental stewardship and inclusive development while continuing to power the nation’s progress.
