Coal block re-allocation begins, 36 mines to be allotted to PSUs from Jan 23

340 million tonnes up for grabs, e-auction for private players to start from February 14

The central government on Wednesday initiated the process for re-allocation of coal blocks. It will allot 36 mines to state-run entities from Friday.

The ministry of coal hopes it will be able to complete the process within a month.

Of the 36 mines, one will go for the steel sector and the rest to power companies.

The e-auction of 46 mines would start from February 14. Out of these, 16 are for the power sector and the rest for the iron & steel and cement sectors, and captive power producers.

“Twenty three operational blocks will be put on auction from February 14 to 22 and the vesting orders will be issued by March 23. The remaining blocks, the ones which are about to produce, will be auctioned between February 25 and March 5,” said Anil Swarup, secretary, ministry of coal.

COUNTDOWN TO 30 DAYS

• 36 mines to be allotted to PSUs – one to steel, the rest to power sector
• 46 mines to be auctioned — 16 to power sector, rest to iron & steel and cement sectors, and captive power producers
• Allotment to conclude by February 23
• E-auction to conclude by March 5
• 340 million tonnes of mines to be reallocated

He said the ministry was hopeful of sticking to its timeline and to wrap the process of re-allocation by March 31, as all the former allottees had surrendered their mines.

Swarup said more mines would be added to the list to be allotted to public sector undertakings (PSUs), if and when a state makes a request.

The government promulgated an ordinance for re-allocation of 204 blockshad cancelled by the Supreme Court in August last year.