MCL has devised a skill development programme on Virtual Reality (VR) to enhance the safety and mining skills of their on-site miners.

Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), Ministry of Coal has devised a skill development programme based on virtual reality (VR). For the sake of enhancing coal miners’ skills, the Coal India subsidiary has set aside ₹6.5 crore in funding. This initiative is designed to offer upskilled training for their 17,000 employees towards safety and operating procedures by 2026.

A major endeavour for 18 training modules utilising this cutting-edge technology will be the introduction of VR-based training for around 17,000 departmental and contract personnel. This venture was started as a step towards the digitalization of business operations.

By 2026, MCL hopes to produce 300 million tonnes (MT) of coal, helping Coal India Ltd. reach its goal of one billion tonnes, by upgrading the technical capabilities of the staff engaged in operational activities.  Employers might save money and time by giving their staff VR-based training, which would also give them unbiased, automatically generated feedback on their trainees’ progress.

Commenting on the development, Om Prakash Singh, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of MCL, emphasised the importance of having a skilled workforce as a prerequisite for safe and effective mining operations. Explaining further, he said, ongoing skill development is necessary to keep up with technological advancements and the introduction of new technology in the mining industry.

MCL, one of the leaders in Coal India Ltd., is renowned for integrating new technology into business processes. Currently, they are in the process of modernising corporate operations through collaborative efforts and knowledge exchange with R&D organisations and sector specialists.

The project, led by MCL’s innovation cell, safety & rescue, electrical & mechanical, excavation, and electronics & telecommunications departments, aims to seamlessly integrate training on 3D simulated VR platforms.  This would give employees a safe training environment before they start working in coal mines or workshops, while also reducing their direct exposure to risky tasks during initial training and induction.

Through a competitive bidding process at the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), M/s Concoct Human Resource Practitioners (CHRP-India) Pvt. Ltd., a Hyderabad-based virtual reality technology company, was awarded the contract for the creation of a simulated environment and the administration of a training programme in subjects such as blasting, mine inspection, electrical safety, working, traffic simulation, engine/transmission maintenance, etc.

Over 193 million tonnes of coal were generated by MCL in the most recent fiscal year 2022–2023, and a record 148 million tonnes of coal were shipped to power plants, making it the greatest coal-producing subsidiary of Coal India Ltd.