NLC India Signs Agreement to Develop North Dhadu Western Mine

• NLCIL signed an agreement to develop and operate the North Dhadu Western Part Coal Mine
• The mine holds over 110 million tonnes of G12-grade coal with 3 MTPA capacity
• The deal supports NLCIL’s expansion through the MDO model and India’s energy security

Recently, NLC India Limited (NLCIL), a Navratna public sector undertaking governed by the Ministry of Coal, made an announcement that a Coal Mining Agreement (CMA) with GRN North Dhadu Coal Mine Private Limited has already been signed for the purpose of the North Dhadu Western Part Coal Mine's development and operation. The agreement was officially signed on 30th December 2025 after the global competitive bidding process.

This development is a big step for NLCIL as it is the first time that the company has won the auction conducted by the Ministry of Coal and thus has found a commercial coal mine.

The project has been granted key regulatory approvals, as the Ministry approved the Mining Plan and Mine Closure Plan on 20th November 2025. Other approvals that are mandatory, including Environmental Clearance (EC) and Forest Clearance (FC), are at various processing stages currently.

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In Jharkhand, the North Dhadu Western Part Coal Mine is a major player in the coal mining industry with over 110 million tonnes of coal reserves that can be extracted. The mine’s production capacity is rated at 3 million tonnes per year, and the coal produced is of G12 grade, which means it can be used in various industries and power plants.

The company reports that the deal is in accordance with the NLCIL’s strategy to keep on working in the coal mining sector via the Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) model. NLCIL’s going to take advantage of this method to make its operations more efficient while also increasing production to cater to the rising demand for power in the country.

This project is going to be a stronghold of NLCIL’s contribution to India’s energy security in the long run and will further establish its presence as one of the main players in the coal-based energy value chain.