Coal India Limited (CIL) has permitted coal consumers located in neighbouring countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal to directly participate in its single window mode agnostic (SWMA) e-auctions, with effect from January 1, 2026.
The move marks the first instance of foreign buyers being allowed to bid directly in CIL’s e-auction framework. The decision follows approval by CIL’s board, which has revised the operational mechanism of the SWMA scheme to enable participation by overseas coal consumers seeking to import coal from India. Earlier, access to CIL’s coal for cross-border consumers was limited to domestic coal traders, who could buy and sell coal without end-use restrictions. The payment process will be governed by foreign exchange management act provisions. Buyers from Nepal will be allowed to make payments in Indian rupees or US dollars, while buyers from Bangladesh and Bhutan will be required to make payments in US dollars, with valuation linked to the Indian rupee.