Coal India Limited (CIL) is intensifying its focus on automated coal sampling as part of its ongoing efforts to improve the quality and consistency of domestic coal supplies. The company is progressively increasing coal despatches through silo-based mechanised loading systems integrated with Auto Mechanical Samplers, a technology-driven process that minimises human intervention and significantly reduces quality-related concerns for consumers.

To ensure impartial, transparent and credible coal quality determination, as mandated under Fuel Supply Agreement provisions, CIL facilitates sampling and testing through independent Third Party Sampling Agencies (TPSAs). At present, 11 TPSAs, empanelled by Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFCL), are engaged in sampling and analysis at coal loading points across CIL’s subsidiary companies. Coal consumers can choose any PFCL-empanelled TPSA for quality assessment.

Up to December FY26, CIL despatched around 375 million tonnes (MT) of coal via the rail mode that was sampled by TPSAs. Nearly 50% of these despatches were routed through silos, where auto mechanical samplers ensured higher standards of quality process control. CIL now aims to raise silo-based despatches to around 80% in the current fiscal, supported by the commissioning of new first-mile connectivity projects and increased silo loading.

Based on sampling analysis by TPSAs and referee laboratories, CIL’s overall grade conformity improved to 85% till December of the ongoing fiscal, compared with 82% in the same period last year. The company expects enhanced silo loading to further improve conformity levels.

Additionally, CIL has initiated steps to introduce online coal quality analysis at two of its subsidiaries to enable real-time quality assessment, further strengthening transparency and technology adoption in the sampling process.

While Indian coal is inherently heterogeneous—with variations in grade even within the same seam—making identical calorific values across samples uncommon, CIL continues to prioritise technology-led quality assessment as a key focus area to enhance reliability and consumer confidence.