Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy Launches BCCL Solar & AI Projects 2025

₹100+ Crore initiatives to boost clean energy production and operational transparency through AI-driven smart governance.

DHANBAD — December 23, 2025 — In a major boost to the coal sector's green transition and digital modernization, the Honorable Union Minister of Coal & Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, inaugurated two flagship projects of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) during his visit to Dhanbad today.

These projects—a large-scale solar plant and an AI-powered command center—mark a significant shift toward "Smart Mining" and sustainable energy practices within one of India's most critical coal-producing subsidiaries.

1. 20 MW Dugdha Solar Power Project (Bokaro)

The inauguration of the Dugdha Solar Project represents BCCL’s aggressive move to diversify its energy basket and achieve Net Zero goals. Located in the Bokaro district, this facility is designed to offset the high energy consumption of mining operations with clean, renewable power.

Annual Generation: 37.43 Million Units (MU) of green electricity.
Environmental Impact: Estimated reduction of 33,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of CO₂ equivalent emissions every year.
Strategic Goal: This project contributes to the Ministry of Coal's target of creating 12 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 across all coal PSUs.

2. AI-Enabled Integrated Command & Control Centre (ICCC)

Shifting focus to digital governance, the Minister also launched an advanced, AI-enabled centralized ICCC. This facility serves as the "digital brain" for BCCL, providing a bird's-eye view of all mining and administrative activities.

Real-Time Monitoring: Uses AI algorithms to analyze live data from various mine sites, coal washeries, and transportation hubs.
Operational Control: Enables immediate intervention in case of safety breaches, logistical bottlenecks, or equipment failures.
Transparency & Efficiency: Centralized data collection ensures better tracking of coal production and movement, significantly reducing the scope for manual errors or unauthorized activities.

Leadership Vision

During the inauguration, Shri G. Kishan Reddy highlighted that the future of Indian coal lies in the synergy between Energy and Technology. He noted that while coal remains the backbone of India's energy security, initiatives like the Dugdha Solar Project ensure that this growth is environmentally responsible. Furthermore, the ICCC sets a new benchmark for transparency in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).