The article enumerates a new electro-chemical method, viz. wet oxidation potential technique for assessing the susceptibility of coal to spontaneous combustion. In the present investigation, 600 experiments with 50 coal samples collected from fiery and non-fiery seams covering different geographical locations in India were carried out. Physicochemical characteristics of coal like moisture, volatile matter, oxygen, and hydrogen contents have been correlated with the results of wet oxidation potential method carried out at different experimental conditions. Analysis of the results indicates that the experiments of the wet oxidation potential method should be carried out with 0.2N KMnO4 solution in 1N KOH at 45 degrees C to achieve optimum results. Results of this method are corroborating with field observations and also give good correlation with results obtained from the crossing point temperature method.