SECL CMD Harish Duhan Gets Additional Charge as WCL CMD

New Delhi: In an order issued by the Ministry of Coal, Government of India, Shri Harish Duhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), has been entrusted with the additional charge of Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Western Coalfields Limited (WCL).

The additional responsibility will be effective from February 1, 2026, for an initial period of three months or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Leadership Track Record at SECL

Shri Harish Duhan assumed charge as CMD of SECL on March 27, 2025. Under his leadership, SECL has recorded significant progress across key focus areas including land acquisition, quality coal production, sustainable and environment-friendly mining practices, and women empowerment.

A notable achievement during his tenure has been SECL becoming India’s first coal PSU to implement paste-fill technology in underground mines, marking a major step towards sustainable mining. Additionally, between April and November 2025, SECL secured possession of a record 236 hectares of land for its mega projects—addressing long-standing land acquisition challenges and strengthening future production capacity.

SECL has also set new benchmarks in workplace inclusion and gender empowerment by commissioning Coal India’s first fully women-operated dispensary and an all-women Central Store Unit.

Extensive Experience in the Coal Sector

Shri Duhan brings with him over 34 years of rich and diverse experience in the coal mining sector. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering from Nagpur University and began his professional career in 1989 with Western Coalfields Limited (WCL).

He is a holder of a First Class Mine Manager’s Certificate and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management. Over the years, he has held several key leadership positions, including Director (Technical–Operations) at Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), Area General Manager at NCL’s Nigahi Project, and General Manager, Corporate Project Planning.

Shri Duhan also has specialized experience in environment-friendly First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects, digital transformation initiatives, and solar power projects, positioning him as a forward-looking and sustainability-driven leader in India’s coal sector.