Page 2 - Coal Blocks

No scope for special treatment to any state in coal block allocation: Govt

The coal ministry on Friday said there is no special rule or scope of giving special treatment to any one state in allocation of coal blocks. The statement comes in the wake of media reports about Telangana industries and commerce minister K T Ramarao's allegation that a large number of lignite mines were allocated to Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) following the nomination method. "It has come to the notice of the ministry of coal about allegations of giving preferential treatment to one state government in allocation of coal blocks, which is false and not based on facts," the coal ministry said. "...the question of preferring one state as claimed is baseless and misleading," the statement said. The ministry further explained that two lignite blocks were allotted to GMDC in 2015 and similarly, three coal blocks were allotted to SCCL, a unit owned by the government of Telangana. Out of three coal mines allocated to SCCL, Pengaddppa and New Patrapara blocks have bee

Vedanta arm Balco wins bid for 900 mn tonne coal block in Chhattisgarh

Vedanta Ltd on Wednesday said that its arm Balco has won the bid for a coal block in Chhattisgarh. The company emerged as successful bidder for the mine during the fourth round of commercial coal mine auction conducted by the government. "The coal block is an optimal fit for Balco, given its logistical location," Vedanta said in a filing to BSE. Once operational, the mine will provide fuel security, enhance power availability, and further strengthen Balco's operations and performance. The block has estimated reserves of 900 million tonnes. Balco was incorporated in 1965 as the first public sector undertaking in the country. In 2001 the Centre disinvested 51 per cent shares of Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd (BALCO) to Sterlite Industries Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited. The remaining 49 per cent is with the Centre.

Almost 50% coal blocks allotted to power PSUs face delay in prodn: Report

Seven out of the total 16 coal blocks issued to state-owned power sector entities or PSUs are yet to start or have just started production, even more than seven years after their allotment

One step back: H C Gupta's conviction has important implications

Officers should not be forced to make decisions with an eye to avoiding future prosecution rather than on efficient outcomes

Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta to bring into operation two coal blocks in FY23

Billionaire Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta expects to bring into operation two coal blocks in Odisha in this fiscal and is working out a plan to fast-track the operationalisation of another coal mine in the eastern state. Vedanta is focusing on the long-term security of coal especially when thermal power plants and the non-regulated sector have witnessed supply shortages in the current and the last year. "We intend to operationalise Jamkhani and Radhikapur (West) (coal blocks....," Vedanta said in its integrated report and annual accounts 2021-22. Vedanta Limited is one of the world's leading oil & gas and metals company with significant operations in oil & gas, zinc, lead, silver, copper, iron ore, steel, and aluminium & power across India, South Africa and Namibia. The company bagged the Jamkhani coal block in 2019 and the Radhikapur West coal block in 2020 in auctions. Jamkhani coal block is in proximity to the company's Jharsuguda aluminium smelter. It is one of the most ...

Telangana CM writes to PM, seeks four coal blocks out of central auction

Rao asked Modi to intervene on the issue and direct the coal ministry to allocate the blocks to SCCL under Section 11 (A)

Auction process for 40 new coal mines to begin next week: Govt

The government on Friday said it will begin next week the next round of auction process for 40 new blocks for the sale of coal

Ministry mulls scheme to allow coal block owners to surrender mines

The Coal Ministry is planning to come up with a scheme to permit coal block allottees to surrender mines that they are not in a position to develop due to technical reasons

Centre regulates coal stocks at plants having more than 15 days buffer

Frees up 177,000 tonnes coal from 26 stations

Odisha government grants mining lease of Utkal-E coal block to NALCO

The Department of Steel and Mines of Odisha government granted the mining lease of Utkal-E coal block to National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) through a notification issued on April 12

Centre to permit sale of 50% coal from captive blocks; invites comments

The ministry said that it has invited comments from the state governments of coal-bearing states and stakeholders/general public on the said proposals

SAIL spend on mines infructuous; laxity high in safety measures: CAG report

State-owned firm neither applied technical due diligence nor did techno-commercial study to assess viability before allotment of its two captive coal blocks, says report

Govt mops up Rs 8,965 cr till Nov from auctioned, allotted coal blocks

The government mopped up Rs 8,964.75 crore till last month from the auctioned and allotted mines, according to the coal ministry

Deocha Pachami coal block will generate 100,000 jobs: Mamata Banerjee

Banerjee, speaking at an administrative review meeting here, expressed hope that the coal extracted will be sufficient to generate electricity for 100 years

Best of BS Opinion: Beyond a seat at UN high table, mining watchdog & more

Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day

Mining watchdog

Independent regulator for coal and other minerals is overdue

Mining reforms in a month; auction of 500 blocks in 2-3 yrs: Pralhad Joshi

The Centre is planning to come out with the proposed mining reforms in a month or so and the auction of mineral blocks will kickstart two to three months after the amendments take place

Adani to own 1st coal mine in India, bids inch up on Day 2 of auctions

Places highest closing bid for Dhirauli mine in MP, edging out the only other bidder Hindalco Industries; The only other mine it owns is Carmichael in Australia

Second round of coal mine auctioning starts Nov 2, 19 blocks on offer

Senior officials said the technically qualified bidders will be announced two hours prior to the bidding on Monday

Commercial mining: Steel cos stay away from bidding in coking coal blocks

No steel company has shown interest in bidding for four coking coal blocks of 38 mines put on auction for commercial mining as they have concerns about fuel quality and high capital cost