Coal mining opens doors to pvt players; power distribution fails to reform

The coal industry this year saw a historic turn of events with private companies entering the arena of commercial mining and sale – 47 years after the sector was nationalised in India. 

The Centre amended the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015, in May to open up auction for non-mining firms; micro, small, and medium enterprises; and foreign companies.

The two-part auction concluded last month when companies submitted their technical bids for 19 of the 38 coal blocks on offer.

Among the winning bidders were Adani Enterprises, Hindalco, Vedanta Ltd, Essel Mining of the Aditya Birla Group, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd, and