Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLC India)

Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLC India)

NLC India Limited (formerly Neyveli Lignite Corporation), established in 1956, is a premier Navratna Public Sector Enterprise in India, spearheading lignite mining and power generation. Headquartered in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, it operates Asia’s first bucket-wheel excavation mining project, providing lignite for power stations, and has diversified into coal mining and renewable energy. 

Key milestones in the history of NLCIL include:

• Discovery and Foundation (1934-1956): Lignite deposits were discovered in 1934 in the Cuddalore district. The corporation was incorporated on November 14, 1956, by the Government of India.
• Operational Commencement (1950s-1960s): The mining project was inaugurated in May 1957. The first bucket wheel excavator was commissioned in 1958-59, and the first thermal power station began operations in 1962 with Soviet assistance.
• Growth and Diversification (1970s-2000s): NLC progressively expanded its capacity, commissioning additional thermal stations, such as Thermal Power Station-II.
• Renaming and Modernization (2016-Present): In 2016, the company was renamed NLC India Limited to reflect its nationwide expansion beyond Neyveli, expanding into solar and wind power in Tamil Nadu and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• Current Status: NLCIL now operates 4 Lignite-based pit-head Thermal Power Stations and has diversified into coal mining at Barsingsar and Ghatampur (Uttar Pradesh). 

NLC has significantly contributed to industrializing the southern region of India by providing steady power and undertaking corporate social responsibility initiatives for community and rural development.