The Visionary Founder's
B Prabhakaran: The Visionary Behind Thriveni
Founding Principles & Early Vision," "Innovations Led by Our Founder," "A Legacy of Sustainable Mining.
In the world of mining, where success is often measured by volume, speed, and scale, Mr. Balasubramaniam Prabhakaran stands out for the clarity of his vision and the strength of his conviction. As the Managing Director of Thriveni Earthmovers and Lloyds Metal, Mr. Prabhakaran has spent over three decades not only building mines but building models of responsible growth that align business ambition with national progress.
His journey began in 1993 with a single excavator and a contract that many considered impossible. Instead of choosing the well-paved path, he took on high-risk, high-complexity mining assignments in some of the toughest terrains of India; including Naxal-affected zones and government projects abandoned for over a decade. What set him apart wasn’t just his appetite for risk, but his ability to deliver, transforming delayed projects into operational powerhouses within record timeframes. One such example is the Pakri Barwadih coal mine for NTPC, where his team began production in just four months after years of stagnation under previous contractors.
As the Managing Director of Thriveni Earthmovers, he scaled operations from modest beginnings to over 45 MTPA in mining volume, positioning Thriveni among the largest private MDOs in the country.
Through his leadership, the company has become synonymous with innovation: building Asia’s largest heavy equipment rebuild centre, electrifying its fleet to cut emissions, pioneering in-pit crushing systems, and leading the charge in carbon savings through smart retrofits and reengineering. His philosophy is simple – profit without purpose has no meaning.
In 2018, Mr. Prabhakaran took on the leadership of Lloyds Metal and Energy Limited (LMEL), a public-listed company with a strong legacy in sponge iron and power. In 2018, he took on a new challenge—reviving Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd in Surjagarh, Maharashtra. What was once a defunct plant became a fully integrated mining and beneficiation operation under his leadership. Today, Lloyds is one of India’s largest iron ore operations and a key player in India’s steel supply chain. The project in Surjagarh is also a model for community-first development, having generated thousands of local jobs and infrastructure growth in one of Maharashtra’s most remote districts.
 At the same time, the company’s efforts in Gadchiroli, ranging from education and skill training to healthcare, reflect a deep belief that mining is not just an industrial activity, but a driver of rural transformation.
At his core, Mr. Prabhakaran is a systems-thinker. Whether it’s refurbishing $4 billion worth of equipment to reduce capital cost, building 218-km underground slurry pipelines to cut diesel use, or introducing ESOPs for blue-collar workers, every move he makes reflects a larger vision, one of wanting to make Indian mining world-class and people-first.
Yet, beyond technology and turnaround stories, what truly defines him is his belief in people. He has created pathways for tribal youth to become dump truck operators, for women to lead logistics operations, and for surrendered Naxals to find peace through livelihood. His initiatives in Hedri, from education and health to sports and security training, are not CSR outposts, but embedded parts of the operational fabric.
Whether it is mechanised mining, integrated logistics, or vocational training in remote areas, his focus has always been to create systems that outlast individuals.
As India charts its path towards becoming a five trillion dollar economy, the role of industry leaders like Prabhakaran becomes even more crucial. He is not just shaping two of India’s most respected mining and metals companies. He is helping redefine what responsible, future-ready industrial leadership looks like.
