The Ministry of Coal has launched the seventh round of commercial coal mines’ auction with a total of 106 coal blocks on offer.
The mines offered are a mix of coal mines under Coal Mines Special Provisions (CMSP) Act and Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act. Out of 106 coal mines, 101 mines are being put up for auction under 17th/7th tranche under CMSP/ MMDR Act and five coal mines are being offered under second attempt of 16th/6th tranche under CMSP/ MMDR Act. Of the 101 coal mines being offered under 17th/7th tranche, 32 are new coal mines and 69 mines are being rolled over from earlier tranches. Additionally, five coal mines under second attempt of 16th/6th tranche under CMSP/ MMDR Act are also being launched where single bids were received in the first attempt. The mines being auctioned are spread across coal/lignite bearing states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Bihar. The commencement of sale of tender document has started from March 29, 2023.
Further, the Ministry of Coal has also signed agreements for 29 coal mines which were auctioned under sixth round of commercial coal mines auction. The cumulative peak rate capacity (PRC) of 29 coal mines is 74 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). These mines upon operationalisation will generate annual revenue of Rs 144.97 billion calculated at PRC of these coal mines.