B Sai Ram from Vizag appointed Coal India CMD

HYDERABAD: B Sai Ram from Visakhapatnam has been selected as the next chairman and managing director (CMD) of Coal India Limited, the country’s largest state-owned coal producer.

He is currently serving as CMD of Northern Coalfields Limited. The Public Enterprises Selection Board announced on Saturday that Sairam cleared the final interview for the top post. Eleven CMDs and directors from leading public sector undertakings competed for the position.

Board recommends Sairam’s name to Centre

Officials said his name has been recommended to the Union government. The appointment will be formalised after approval by the Prime Minister’s Office and issue of orders.

Coal India, under Sai Ram’s leadership, will continue to be critical for the country’s energy sector. In 2024-25, the company produced 781 million tonnes of coal, accounting for nearly 3 to 4th of the country’s total 1,047 million tonnes.

Telugu presence in key coal sector posts

Earlier, Telangana’s Narsing Rao had served as CMD of Coal India before becoming principal secretary to the chief minister. Presently, Telangana MP G Kishan Reddy is Union coal minister. With Sairam’s appointment, another Telugu officer will lead Coal India.

Sairam is a mining engineering graduate from National Institute of Technology, Raipur. He has also served as technical director at Central Coalfields Limited. His extensive experience in the coal sector was a key factor in the board’s decision.