Coal India Ltd (CIL), the state-owned coal miner that supplies over 80% of India's domestic coal, has achieved a record coal dispatch of approximately 375 million tonnes via rail in the first nine months of the 2025-26 fiscal year, the company announced late last week.

This milestone also marks a significant leap in quality assurance, as every tonne dispatched was sampled by independent Third Party Sampling Agencies (TPSAs). Half of these dispatches were executed using the automated silo system, part of CIL's broader push toward automation and transparency.

CIL aims to increase this share to 80% by the end of the fiscal year. To that end, it is heavily investing in First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects, designed to integrate mechanized loading directly from mines.

Seventy-two such projects are currently underway, with a combined annual capacity of 843 million tonnes and estimated investments of 27,750 crore rupees ($3 billion). These efforts are intended to streamline operations, reduce pilferage, and deliver consistent coal grades to consumers.

The company's grade conformity, a key metric for coal quality, improved to 85% as of December 2025, up from 82% a year earlier. These improvements are verified through TPSA and referee lab analysis. Eleven TPSAs, empaneled by the Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFCL), currently assess coal at CIL's loading points, and consumers are allowed to choose their preferred agency for quality assessment.

CIL is also piloting online, real-time coal analysis at two of its subsidiaries, a move aligned with its broader digitalization agenda. These upgrades address historical consumer concerns about quality variability. By embracing technology, CIL is working to minimize grade mismatches and disputes with consumers.

The firm's operational advancements come at a time of robust coal demand, driven by India's expanding power and infrastructure sectors. Investor confidence remains strong, evidenced by the recent IPO of Bharat Coking Coal and the board's nod to list South Eastern Coalfields.