The EMIL Story: Where Legacy Meets Tomorrow.
The EMIL Story: Where Legacy Meets Tomorrow.
Iron-rich, red earth deep in the forests of Odisha. A young, independent India had just started writing its story. And somewhere in Barbil, a small mining company began writing its own.
That company was us—Essel Mining & Industries Limited (EMIL)
Back in 1950, mining in India was still finding its feet. But EMIL was not here just to dig minerals. We were here to build something—a future. Our first iron ore lease was not just a contract. It was a commitment.
By the 1960s, our iron ore became the gold standard. But what we truly took pride in was something far rarer trust. In the remote tribal belts of Eastern India, we created jobs, laid roads, opened schools. Quietly. Consistently
The 1990s brought economic liberalisation—and with it, transformation. EMIL officially became part of the Aditya Birla Group in 1990. And from that moment on, we went from being a respected miner to a trusted engine of progress.
We mechanised. We digitised. We became one of the first Indian miners to adopt ERP, ISO certifications, and sustainability metrics before they were buzzwords. We ventured into ferro alloys, reusing waste from other Group companies—long before the world called it a circular economy.
And all the while, we stayed resilient. Reliable. Rooted.
The past 15 years? A masterclass in reinvention. In 2011, we took on the Bhubaneswari Coal Mine—the largest in India. And just like that, we were not just extracting resources.
We were running some of the biggest, most complex mining operations in the country. From coalfields in Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh to Circular Pelletisation in Odisha, we pushed boundaries. We did not just follow global trends—we set them.
You will find families here—three generations deep. You will meet engineers who started as apprentices. And you will see a culture where every miner matters. That is what defines us. Not just what we mine, but how we care.
Through the Gyanodaya Virtual Campus, Mining Academy, community celebrations, leadership access, we have built a company that feels less like a workplace, more like a home.
We believe in business with a soul. And that means showing up where it matters most.
We have impacted over 11 million lives across 9,000 villages. Because CSR isn’t a department here. It’s how we work.
Mining cannot be at odds with nature. That is why we have made sustainability not just a goal—but a habit.
We are moving toward zero-waste mining, and we are doing it for one reason: because tomorrow deserves better.
As part of the $65B Aditya Birla Group, we share a common purpose: To Enrich Lives. Whether it's supporting global expansion or pioneering ESG compliance, EMIL has been a quiet, powerful force behind the Group’s growth.
Group synergies: from recycling with Hindalco to clean energy with Renewables—make us stronger, smarter, and more sustainable.
We are not slowing down.
This is not just about mining more. It is about mining responsibly, intelligently, and inclusively.
This milestone is not a finish line. It is a new beginning. From the heart of Odisha to the coalfields of Central India, from legacy to leadership, from tradition to transformation—EMIL has always stood for something larger than business.
We have moved mountains. And we have moved people.
Here is to the next chapter.
One that is younger, bolder, greener—and full of promise.
Explore our 75-Year Journey →