The ministry of coal on Thursday launched the 12th round of commercial mine auctions, placing 25 coal mines under the hammer.
Among these mines, two are lignite reserves, catering to diverse energy requirements. Thirteen of these coal mines are fully explored and 12 are partially explored, providing opportunities for both immediate and future development, the government said.
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Among the mines, seven were offered under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act of 2015 and 18 under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957.
In addition, the coal ministry has offered three partially explored coal mines in a second attempt of the 11th round of auctions, in an attempt to provide significant investment opportunities while reducing imports and enhancing domestic production.
The government has launched the 11th round of coal mine auctions for commercial mining in December 2024 and a total of 12 coal mines were successfully auctioned — eight of these fully explored and four partially explored.
The 11th round of auctions witnessed intense competition, achieving an impressive average revenue share of 36.27%, the highest among the commercial coal mine auctions, coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy said. “We are working with state governments to simplify approvals and permissions for a seamless experience for mine operators,” Reddy added.
The 12 mines auctioned collectively hold a geological reserve of approximately 5,759.23 million tonne, with a cumulative peak rated capacity of 15.46 million tonne per annum (MTPA), excluding partially explored mines.
Jindal Steel and Power, Western Coalfields, New Era Cleantech Solution, Rungta Sons, Mineware Advisors, Pra Nuravi Coal Mining, Singhal Business, Innovative Mines and Minerals, and Jharkhand Exploration and Mining Corporation emerged as the winners under the 11th tranche of coal auctions.
The mines auctioned under the 11th round are projected to generate an annual revenue of Rs 3,330 crore (excluding partially explored mines) and attract a capital investment of approximately Rs 2,319 crore, the government had said.
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Since the inception of commercial coal mining in 2020, the coal ministry has successfully auctioned a total of 125 coal mines, with a combined production capacity of 273.06 million tonne per year.
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