Coal block e-auction: Last date for bid submission extended to Feb 3

Decision based on requests received from interested bidders asking for more time

The government has extended the last date for submission of technical bids for the coal block e-auction to February 3 from the earlier one of January 31. The coal ministry’s spokesperson said the decision was taken after interested bidders sought more time. The government initiated the re-allocation process on January 23 by starting the allotment of 36 coal mines to state-run entities.

The coal ministry is hopeful of concluding this process in a month’s time.

Out of the 36 coal mines that would be allotted, one is for the steel sector and the rest for the power sector. Meanwhile, the e-auction of 46 coal mines would also start from February 14. Out of these, 16 are for the power sector and the rest for iron & steel and cement sectors, and captive power producers.

The government promulgated a special ordinance for re-allocating the 204 coal blocks, which had been cancelled by the Supreme Court citing them illegal.