Mr. B. Sairam took over as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Coal India Limited (CIL) with effect from December 15, 2025. He succeeds Mr. Sanoj Kumar Jha, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Coal, who had been holding interim charge since November 1, 2025, following the superannuation of Mr. P. M. Prasad on October 31.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Sairam served as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), a coal-producing subsidiary of CIL. Before that, he was Director (Technical) at Central Coalfields Limited, another CIL arm.
Outlining his priorities, Mr. Sairam said that boosting coal production and ensuring better quality coal supplies remain central to meeting the country’s energy needs. At the same time, CIL is aligning with evolving energy sector dynamics by expanding into solar power, critical mineral acquisitions, and coal gasification, while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainable mining practices.
A coal mining professional with over 35 years of experience, Mr. Sairam is a mining engineering graduate from the National Institute of Technology, Raipur, and holds an MBA in Energy Management from the NTPC School of Business. His experience spans coal mine operations, planning, logistics, and regulatory affairs.