My heart is greeting to all on the occasion of 79th Independence Day. Today, as we gathered here under the shadow of our glorious tricolor, my heart is filled with immense pride and gratitude. It is indeed a matter of great honor for me to stand before you today as a humble participant in this event, evolving story of Indian progress, resilience and determination. Independence Day is not merely a common commemoration of a historic event. It asks us to carry forward the values of unity, integrity, courage and service that our freedom fighters cherished. As Bal Gangadhar Tilak told, that still rings in our ears, 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.' The India we live in today is vastly different from the one that moved to freedom in 1947. Then we were a young nation finding its feet. Today we are one of the fastest growing economies, a vibrant democracy and respected voice in the global community. We have harnessed technology, built infrastructure, nurtured talent, and forged ahead despite challenges. But the spirit that binds us remains unchanged. The resilience to rise, the courage to dream, and the determination to decide our own destiny. As we celebrate the day of national pride, let us reflect on the roles we play as institutions, organizations and individuals in building the India of tomorrow.
At NLC India Limited, we take immense pride in being a key contributor to the national efforts. Over the past three years, we have scripted a growth story marked by many milestones. We have ventured into commercial and critical mineral mining, expanded our renewable energy footprint across the country and embraced innovations like converting mine over into M sand and setting up solar plants on reclaimed lands, turning what was once considered waste into wealth for the nation. A landmark achievement has been our entry into the league of supercritical thermal operations with the commissioning of unit number one of the Katamur thermal power project. This, along with multiple joint ventures formed with the state governments and PSUs, is pushing us towards our vision 2030 target of 10 gigawatt of thermal capacity and 10.1 gigawatt of renewable capacity and over 100 million tons per annum of mining capacity.
Friends, the momentum has continued into the current year. The performance in the quarter one of the financial year 2025-26 has been extremely encouraging. Our lignite extraction was 38.81 lakh tons while coal production from Talabira mine stood at 37.88 lakh tons, which is the all-time highest ever quarter one production. We generated a total of 6.66 billion units of power including 9.9 million units of that. Port revenues from operations grew by 13.25%. And our profit after tax for the quarter, reflecting a remarkable 48% growth over the same period last year. The Government of India has further strengthened our hands by granting us enhanced investment autonomy. We can now invest up to 7,000 crores in our renewable subsidiary without prior approvals. This empowerment reflects the trust placed in us at the highest level of the government and it stands as a recognition of the strong business profile of NLC India Limited.
Over the past year, NLC India Limited has taken strides to position itself as a driving force in India's green energy transition. We have unveiled an ambitious investment plan of 1.225 lakh crore to triple our capacity from 6.7 gigawatt to 20 gigawatt by 2030, backed by strong cabinet support. While the entire country and globe is targeting to double or triple their capacities, we are targeting to increase our renewable capacity by seven times. Our renewable energy portfolio is expanding rapidly. NLC has secured a landmark 250 megawatt, 500 megawatt hour battery storage project in Tamil Nadu, a 450 megawatt wind solar hybrid project from NTPC, and 200 megawatt wind project with SJVN. We are partnering with states to scale up green energy with joint ventures in Assam, Rajasthan, Maharashtra alone will add thousands of megawatt. We are also venturing into critical and strategic minerals with recent events in phosphate and limestone blocks in Chhattisgarh and strategic collaboration with VEC to extract rare earth elements supporting Bharat.
Our efforts have been widely recognized. Mine 1A, Binsar and Talabira mines have a five-star rating. Notably, Mine 1A is ranked as first in the country out of 228 mines, and Talabira 2 and 3 mine won five awards at Annual Mine Safety Fortnight 2025. Special Campaign 4 got the best performer award in the new initiative and best practices category. We were ranked the top PSU in Mission Karmayogi in the category for digital training this February 2025, and we have won prestigious awards for financial performance, corporate communications, CSR in education, water conservation, environmental excellence and safety. These achievements reflect the unwavering dedication, innovation and teamwork of the NLC family as we continue to power progress sustainably. These achievements stand as a testament to the dedication, teamwork and vision of the entire NLC family.
Beyond business, we have remained deeply committed to community development. In the financial year 2024-25 alone, we spent over 48 crores on CSR projects, benefiting over 8 lakh people. From nutrition support for school children, assistive devices for persons with disabilities, and education support for underprivileged students, to rural sports, water access and village lighting, we have worked to improve lives wherever we operate. As Swami Vivekananda said, 'A country's greatness lies in its undying ideals of love and sacrifices that inspire the mothers of the race.' We believe our CSR initiatives reflect this ideal by nurturing education, health and well-being in our communities. Our schools have produced excellent academic results, with students topping district rankings and excelling in competitive examinations. We have invested in skill development, job oriented training and career guidance for our youth. I congratulate all the students who brought laurels to NLC. I wish them all the success in their future endeavors.
Friends, the global energy landscape is fast changing. Climate change, technological disruptions and market dynamics are shaping the future for India. This is both a challenge and an opportunity. NLC is ready. We are diversifying into green hydrogen, expanding storage solutions, integrating renewables with thermal for stability, and tapping critical minerals for strategic industries. In the words of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, 'Manpower without unity is not a strength unless it is harmonized and united properly. Then it becomes a spiritual power.' I extend my sincere appreciation to all the executives, non-executives, supervisors, staff, workmen, including contract personnel and in-house personnel who form the NLC family for their dedicated contribution to the organization's growth and success across all our accomplishments. I urge everyone to remain steadfast in upholding the highest standards of safety across all operations, as the well-being of our workforce is the cornerstone of our progress. A safe and healthy work environment is not only a responsibility but also the foundation for sustaining our achievements and future growth.
On behalf of the NLC family, on this auspicious occasion, I convey my heartfelt gratitude to the Honorable Minister of Coal and Mines, the Honorable Minister of State for Coal and Mines, the Secretary of Coal, the Joint Secretary of Coal, all ministry officials, other ministries, officials of the Government of India and the state governments of Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration, and all other states. I equally acknowledge the valuable support extended by central and state government statutory authorities, whose cooperation continues to enable and strengthen our efforts in building a sustainable future for the company and the nation. Let us the NLC family move forward in unity, committed to safety, innovation, sustainability and excellence. Let us ensure that when the story of India's 21st century transformation is told, NLC's name is written in golden letters. Let us remember our freedom was earned through sacrifice. Our future will be earned through service. Together, let us ensure that NLC remains a beacon of excellence in India's power landscape, lighting lives, upholding the highest standards of safety, igniting innovation and inspiring generations. As you know, NLC is famous for its creativity in innovation. To further promote this great Indian innovation, a decision has been taken. The next Republic Day will be celebrated exactly in line with what was celebrated in our capital New Delhi to promote innovation and creativity among the children, schools and our employees. Thank you.
