44 bids have been received for 67 coal blocks put up for sale under the 10th round of commercial mine auction. The government gave this information on Friday. A total of 44 bids were submitted in physical form. The Coal Ministry had put 67 coal mines up for sale under the 10th round of commercial mine auction in June. According to PTI news, the Coal Ministry said in a statement that the substantial number of bids underlines the continued interest and participation of stakeholders in India’s emerging coal sector.
There was a good response from the industry.
According to the news, there has been a lot of participation from small and medium-sized players in the auction process, which reflects the inclusive nature of the auction process. This inclusiveness highlights that the reforms in the coal sector have received a good response in the industry, irrespective of the size of the players. The online bids received during the auction process as well as offline bids will be opened on Monday.
An important step towards making us self-reliant
The strong response to this round of auction is a significant step towards making the country energy self-reliant and is in line with the Government’s vision of self-reliance. By involving a diverse range of participants, the Centre aims to further enhance coal production, and ensure a reliable supply of dry fuel for various sectors, thereby enhancing energy security and reducing dependence on imports. The Ministry of Coal is committed to fostering a dynamic and competitive environment for the coal sector to ensure the availability of coal resources to meet the growing demands of the economy.
The government had said two months ago that out of the 28 coal mining projects identified to be operated through mining operators-cum-developers, 18 mines have been awarded to leading private firms. The participation of these mining developers-cum-operators (MDOs) is expected to make a substantial contribution to coal production, ensuring both production growth and operational excellence.