PSU giants turn up heat in fight for coal blocks

NTPC, Singareni Collieries, WBPDCL lead; Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat & West Bengal race closely

The fight for coal blocks is heating up with state-owned giants putting multiple applications for rich mines.

Leading the pack is thermal power generation behemoth NTPC with eight bids, followed by the country's second largest miner, Singareni Collieries Company, with six bids.

The ministry of coal received a whooping 107 online applications or technical bids for 43 coal blocks put under the "allotment criteria". To the states and public sector utilities, the government will allot mines through just technical evaluation. The list of coal blocks for allotment had only one for end use in the steel sector, rest all are for power generation.

The one block for end-use steel - Sitanala in Jharkhand got a sole bidder in SAIL. In seven coal blocks, there is just single application. For one of the richest coal mines of Chhattisgarh on the anvil - Gare Palma-II, there were maximum nine applications and Gare Palma-III received eight applications. This cluster of mines boasts of high-grade coal available at lesser depth with evacuation facility at most places.

Among the states, Gujarat has put maximum six bids. Reeling under immense power crisis and with an eye on upcoming elections, UP and Bihar have also participated excitedly with five bids each. For five coal blocks in West Bengal, its state-owned entity West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd is the sole bidder.

Earlier, the government has put 35 coal blocks for allotment which received 69 bids. The list was increased to 43 blocks after several states had put in the request for coal to be made available to them.

The applications citing the technical expertise of the interested parties were opened by the nominated authority of the coal block re-allocation, under the ministry of coal on 1 March.

The bids would now be evaluated by a 'Technical Evaluation Committee' comprising of representation from ministry of coal, power and Central Electricity Authority.

TOUGH COMPETITION

• 8 bids: NTPC
• 6 bids: Singareni Collieries Company
• 5 bids: Neyveli Lignite & its two joint ventures with UP & Tamil Nadu
• 6 bids: Gujarat State Electricity Corporation
• 5 bids: UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd
• 5 bids: WBPDCL - single bids in blocks found in West Bengal state.
• 5 bids: Bihar State Power Generation Company
• Bhartiya Rail Bijlee Corporation - JV of NTPC & Indian Railways puts bid for one block in Jharkhand.
• Gare Palma cluster of mine gets highest bidders again
• Single bids: 7 mines get single bids