Centre puts up 8 coal mines from 4 states for auction

The Centre on Thursday said it has decided to auction eight Schedule III coal mines earmarked for the non-regulated sector in the fourth tranche of the coal auctions in January next year.

Two mines each from Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and West Bengal will go under the hammer when companies from the iron and steel, cement and captive power plants will bid for a total 1,143.42 million tonnes (MT) of coal reserves.

The Brahampuri and the partially explored Suliyari coal block in Madhya Pradesh has coal reserves of 102.49 MT and 142 MT, respectively, while the Gondkhari and Khappa coal mines in Maharashtra has reserves of 98.72 MT and 84.72 MT of the fossil fuel.

Bundu and Gondulpara coal blocks in Jharkhand each have reserves of 102.27 MT and 176.33 MT, respectively.

The largest of the allotted mines (at 267.33 MT) is in the Jaganathpur coal block in West Bengal where two of the blocks (to go for auctions) have a joint reserve of 436.9 MT.

"Directions have been issued to the nominated authority for conduct of the auctions," a statement from the government said.

In a press conference, coal secretary Anil Swarup said the Notice Inviting Tender will be issued on Friday (November 20) while the commencement of the sale of tender document shall start from the same day.

The due date for submission of bids has been fixed on December 31 this year and the e-auctions will be held during January 18-22 next year.

The results of the bidding will be declared by March 10 next year.