Coal India Limited is expanding the use of digital technology across underground and open-cast mining, according to the Ministry of Coal.
The programme includes IoT sensors, artificial intelligence, data analytics, predictive maintenance, automated dispatch and smart control rooms. In exploration, newer seismic and analytical techniques are also being used to reduce unnecessary drilling and improve resource assessment.
The shift matters because coal will remain part of India's energy system even as renewable capacity expands. Better technology can improve productivity and worker safety, but it does not remove the environmental costs of coal.
