What Happened in the 12th Round of Coal Mine Auctions?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 41 bids received for 11 coal blocks in the 12th auction round.
- 27 companies participated, including newcomers to the commercial coal block auction.
- The auction aims to generate significant revenue and create thousands of job opportunities.
- The process emphasizes transparency with electronic opening of bids.
- Coal mines auctioned previously are expected to drive economic growth.
New Delhi, June 16 (NationPress) The Nominated Authority of the Coal Ministry has officially commenced the bidding process for the 12th round of commercial coal block auctions. A total of 41 bids have been submitted, both online and in physical format, for 11 coal blocks, as detailed in an official statement.
The online bids were decrypted and opened in an electronic format, ensuring transparency in the presence of all bidders. Following this, sealed envelopes containing the offline bid documents were also opened under the watchful eyes of the bidders. The entire procedure was broadcasted on a screen for all participants, according to the statement.
Among the companies that placed bids are Damodar Valley Corporation, Amalgam Steel and Power Ltd, NLC India Limited, Oriental Quarries and Mines Pvt Ltd, Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Orissa Alloy Steel Pvt Ltd, Penna Shipping Limited, and Jharkhand Exploration and Mining Corporation Limited.
In total, 38 bids were received for the eight coal blocks available in this round. In the second attempt of the 11th round, three coal blocks were auctioned, resulting in three bids, each block receiving one bid, as clarified in the statement.
This auction round has seen a strong response, with 27 companies participating in the bidding process. Notably, over 10 new companies have engaged for the first time in the commercial coal block auction, indicating a growing interest from private firms in this sector.
The bids will undergo evaluation by a multi-disciplinary Technical Evaluation Committee, which will shortlist the Technically Qualified Bidders for participation in the upcoming electronic auction on the MSTC portal, as stated.
Earlier in March, the Ministry of Coal successfully auctioned twelve coal mines, including eight fully explored and four partially explored mines across five states.
These mines are anticipated to generate an annual revenue of Rs 3,330 crore (excluding the partially explored mines) and attract a capital investment of around Rs 2,319 crore. Furthermore, they are expected to provide 20,902 employment opportunities, significantly boosting economic growth in coal-bearing regions.