The Talabira II & III Open Cast Coal Mine in Odisha, operated by NLC, has achieved its highest-ever annual coal production of 19.14 million tonnes (MT) in FY 2025-26, marking an 11.28% year-on-year increase and reinforcing the Government of India’s push to enhance domestic coal output and energy security through the Nominated Authority (NA) allocation framework.
Allocated to NLC India on May 2, 2016, under Schedule III of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015, the mine has emerged as one of the country’s top-performing NA-allocated coal blocks. Located across Sambalpur and Jharsuguda districts in Odisha, the project has consistently expanded production while integrating technology, safety measures and community development initiatives.
The mine also set new operational milestones during the financial year, recording its highest-ever daily production of 1,26,138 tonnes on March 21, 2026 and its highest-ever monthly production of 3.39 MT in March 2026.
Coal dispatch reached a record 17.69 MT during FY26, with 10.72 MT supplied to the power sector and 6.97 MT delivered to the non-regulated sector. The mine supplies coal to major power plants, including NTPC’s Darlipali, Gadarwara, Khargone and Kudgi stations, besides serving utilities across Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Since commencing operations, Talabira II & III has produced 72.23 MT of coal and dispatched 70.89 MT up to August 14, 2026, underscoring its growing contribution to India’s domestic coal availability.
A major driver behind the mine’s performance has been the adoption of digital and automated mining technologies. Its Digital Logistics Management System (DLMS) enables end-to-end monitoring of coal transportation using RFID-based vehicle verification, AI-enabled cameras and automated entry and exit gates. The system has reduced average vehicle entry processing time from 1.42 minutes to 0.54 minutes, while tare weighment time has fallen from 1.34 minutes to 0.48 minutes.
The mine also employs surface miners equipped with dust-suppression systems, GPS-based fleet management with geo-fencing, drone-based surveys, 3D terrestrial laser scanning, mechanised truck loading, continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations and CCTV surveillance to improve operational efficiency.
Environmental management has remained a key focus alongside production growth. The project has carried out plantation across 23.43 hectares within the mining lease, covering 64,288 plants, while an additional 29.48 hectares outside the lease has been planted with 65,202 plants. It has also installed 11.68 kW of solar power capacity, including solar-powered street lighting in nearby villages and lighting within mine facilities. Dust-control measures include wet drilling, water sprinkling, fog cannons, wind barriers, truck-washing systems and mechanised road sweeping.
Safety performance has been another standout feature, with the mine reporting zero fatal accidents since inception. It has implemented comprehensive safety measures, including a Safety Management Plan, improved haul-road management, mandatory PPE compliance, strengthened blasting procedures, regular safety training and near-miss reporting through the ARAN Safety App. The mine has also secured the Ministry of Coal’s prestigious Five-Star Rating for five consecutive years, from FY21 to FY25, while earning multiple recognitions under the Annual Mines Safety Fortnight.
Beyond mining operations, the project has generated significant local economic benefits by supporting 3,277 employment opportunities, including 1,277 direct jobs and around 2,000 indirect jobs through transportation and allied activities. Skill development initiatives have trained project-affected persons and rural youth through the Skill Development Institute in Bhubaneswar, RSETI and PMKVY centres.
Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives have also expanded steadily. The mine spent ₹5.32 crore on CSR programmes during FY26, supporting healthcare, drinking water, education, school transportation, rural infrastructure, sports, cultural activities and solar lighting. Health and blood donation camps benefited around 1,500 people, while drinking water supply through tankers reached nearly 10,000 residents. During FY27 up to July 2026, an additional ₹4.20 crore was invested in community projects, including healthcare support, village infrastructure, Anganwadi improvements, rural roads and water-body rejuvenation.
