New Delhi: The Talabira II & III Open Cast Coal Mine, which has been allocated and auctioned under the framework of the government’s Nominated Authority (NA), has set new records for production and dispatch in FY26. The mine produced 19.14 million tonnes (MT) and dispatched 17.69 MT, according to an official announcement made on Monday.
The Ministry of Coal highlighted that these achievements underscore the Central government’s commitment to enhancing domestic coal output and ensuring energy security through the NA framework.
Allocated to NLC India Ltd. on May 2, 2016, the Talabira II & III mine has shown exceptional performance in various areas including production, dispatch, technology implementation, safety, environmental stewardship, employment, and community support.
Situated in the Sambalpur and Jharsuguda districts, this mine has become a vital source of coal for the nation. It achieved an annual production increase of 11.28 percent, with its peak daily output reaching 126,138.07 tonnes on March 21, 2026, and a record monthly production of 3.39 MT in March 2026, the statement revealed.
Coal extracted from Talabira II & III is supplied to numerous power generation facilities across several states, including NTPC Darlipali, NTPC Gadarwara, NTPC Khargone, NTPC Kudgi, and other power plants located in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
Since its production began, the mine has consistently grown, with total coal production reaching 72.23 MT and total dispatch hitting 70.89 MT as of August 14, 2026.
The ministry noted that the successful results demonstrate the effectiveness of utilizing coal resources allocated under the government’s coal-block allocation system.
Technology has played a crucial role in enhancing operational efficiency at Talabira II & III. The Digital Logistics Management System (DLMS) enables comprehensive digital oversight of coal transport and dispatch, utilizing RFID-based vehicle verification, AI-driven cameras, and technology-integrated entry and exit gates.
By implementing DLMS, the average vehicle entry-gate processing time has been cut down from 1.42 minutes to just 0.54 minutes, while tare weighment time has decreased from 1.34 minutes to 0.48 minutes.
The mine also employs surface miners equipped with dust control systems, GPS-based fleet management, geo-fencing, 3D Terrestrial Laser Scanning with GNSS receivers, drone surveying, mechanized truck loading, Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations, and CCTV surveillance.
Safety remains a top priority at the mine, which has recorded no fatalities since it began operations. Key safety initiatives include a comprehensive Safety Management Plan, enhanced haul-road and traffic management, personal protective equipment compliance, reinforced blasting protocols, safety training, and near-miss reporting via the ARAN Safety App.
Talabira II & III has created a total of 3,277 jobs, including 1,277 direct positions and around 2,000 indirect jobs through transportation and related services.
