By THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM|The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recommended the name of N. Franklin Jayakumar for the prestigious post of Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), a major subsidiary of Coal India Limited. His selection followed an interview process in which eleven candidates appeared before the PESB panel.

Jayakumar, presently serving as Director (Technical) Operations at South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), brings with him over three decades of rich experience in mining operations, project management, safety, and strategic planning across leading coal and lignite mining organisations in India and abroad.

An accomplished mining professional, Jayakumar assumed charge as Director (Technical) Operations, SECL, on January 1, 2025. Prior to this assignment, he served as Chief General Manager/Project Head of Talabira II & III Open Cast Project at NLC India Limited from November 2022 and was later elevated as Executive Director, Coal Coordination & Project Head of the same project in July 2023.

A graduate in Mining Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University, Chennai, Jayakumar has also obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Engineering and Management from the Central University, Hyderabad, and an MBA in Human Resource Management from Alagappa University, Tamil Nadu. He holds a First Class Manager’s Certificate of Competency to manage coal mines issued by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) and is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India).

Jayakumar’s professional journey reflects a blend of operational expertise and leadership across diverse mining environments. He began his career with Singareni Collieries Company Limited, where he served for nearly 18 years from 1993 to 2011, handling various responsibilities in highly mechanised underground and opencast mines.

His international exposure includes heading mining operations of a 5 million tonne per annum coal mine in Indonesia for five years from 2011 to 2016. He later joined NLC India Limited, where he managed the 10.5 million tonne per annum Lignite Mine-I in Tamil Nadu from 2016 to 2021. He also served as Chief General Manager and Technical Secretary to the CMD and Director (Mines) of NLC India Limited, contributing to several strategic initiatives.

During his tenure at NLC India, Jayakumar played a key role in the Lignite-to-Methanol Project, which was at an advanced stage of contract award. His expertise in project execution, technology integration and resource management strengthened his credentials as a future leader in the coal sector.

Beyond mining operations, Jayakumar has been associated with mine safety and policy initiatives. He served as Zonal Secretary of the Neyveli Zone of the Tamil Nadu Mines Safety Association under the aegis of DGMS and was also a Board Member of the Skill Council for Mines Sector in India. He contributed to the Ministry of Coal’s efforts in formulating crisis management plans under the National Disaster Management framework.

The recommendation of Jayakumar for the CMD position at NCL comes at a time when the coal sector is undergoing major transformation with emphasis on enhanced production, technological modernisation, mine safety, sustainable mining practices and energy security.

With his extensive experience in large-scale mining operations, project development and leadership roles, Jayakumar is expected to bring a strong operational vision and strategic direction to Northern Coalfields Limited, one of India’s largest coal-producing companies. His appointment, subject to approval by the competent authority, would mark another significant leadership transition in the Coal India group.

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