SECL signs strategic MoU with CWC to strengthen coal logistics and rail transportation network
New Delhi, May 28
South Eastern Coalfields Limited, the 2nd largest coal producing subsidiary of Coal India Limited, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Central Warehousing Corporation for strategic collaboration in coal logistics, railway rake provisioning under GPWIS/equivalent schemes, and integrated transportation services.
Working under the guidance of the Ministry of Coal towards strengthening India's energy security and coal logistics infrastructure, SECL is continuously undertaking initiatives to enhance coal evacuation efficiency and ensure an uninterrupted fuel supply to key consuming sectors. The strategic partnership with CWC marks another significant step in this direction.
The partnership with CWC is aimed at strengthening SECL's coal evacuation capabilities through reliable, efficient and dedicated rail logistics solutions to meet the growing demand from the power, steel, cement and other core sectors.
The MoU envisages collaboration in areas including dedicated railway rake operations, integrated coal transportation solutions, multimodal logistics, first-mile and last-mile connectivity, and deployment of digital systems for logistics monitoring and operational efficiency.
Under the proposed framework, both organisations will jointly explore provisioning and operation of GPWIS/equivalent rakes, integrated rail logistics services, and long-term transportation solutions aimed at improving dispatch efficiency and reducing logistical bottlenecks.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Shri Harish Duhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, SECL, and Santosh Sinha, Managing Director, CWC.
Functional Directors and senior officials from SECL, as well as representatives from CWC, were also present during the signing ceremony.
SECL continues to play a pivotal role in meeting the country's growing coal demand. In the ongoing financial year 2026-27, Coal India Limited has already crossed the 100 Million Tonne production mark, with SECL emerging as the leading contributor by producing over 26.8 Million Tonnes.
CWC, a Navaratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Government of India, is a leading organisation in integrated logistics and warehousing services with extensive experience in rail-linked cargo movement and multimodal transportation solutions.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting partnership. From a logistics perspective, integrating warehousing and rail operations makes a lot of sense. However, I wonder how this will impact coal transportation costs in the long run. India's coal sector seems to be modernizing—hopefully this leads to more efficient supply chains.
Good initiative, but I hope they also focus on environmental aspects. We need coal for now, but shouldn't forget about transitioning to renewables. SECL producing 26.8 MT is huge—let's use that energy responsibly! Also, last-mile connectivity in remote mining areas is a real challenge. Hope this MoU addresses that. 🌱
Finally some concrete steps to fix coal logistics! I've seen rakes getting stuck for days at junctions—GPWIS scheme can really help if implemented properly. But SECL should also look at reducing coal losses during transport. Every percentage saved is crores of rupees. My two paise on this! 💰
This is a positive development for India's core sectors. The steel and cement industries have been facing coal shortages—dedicated rakes will be a game-changer. But SECL must ensure transparency in logistics monitoring. Digital systems are great, but only if data is shared openly. Let's see how this unfolds. 🏭
Modernization of India's coal logistics is crucial for economic growth. The MoU seems comprehensive—from first-mile to last-mile connectivity. However, I'm curious about the cost implications for end consumers. Also, how will this align with India's net-zero commitments? Coal will remain important for years, but efficiency gains should also
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