Nagpur, Feb 13 Dr. Hemant Sharad Pande has been recommended by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) today for the position of Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Western Coalfields Limited (WCL).a Mini Ratna Category-I company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Coal India Limited (A Maharatna company), under the Ministry of Coal bringing over 35 years of leadership experience in the coal mining sector.
Currently serving as Director (Human Resources) at WCL, he previously held the position of Area General Manager, Raigarh Area, at South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a key subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL). He has led large-scale opencast and underground mining operations across multiple CIL subsidiaries.
An alumnus of Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, Dr. Pande holds an MBA, M.Tech in Mining and a PhD in Management. He has also undergone advanced techno-management training at ESCP Business School and represented India at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference.
Recognized with CIL’s Best General Manager Award in 2022, Dr. Pande is known for driving operational modernization, sustainable mining practices, and strong industrial relations. His appointment is expected to further strengthen WCL’s operational performance and strategic growth.
His selection reflects the government’s confidence in his leadership abilities and vision to strengthen domestic coal production while ensuring environmental responsibility and workforce welfare. Industry observers believe his appointment will further reinforce WCL’s contribution to India’s energy security and economic growth.
