By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: Including 18 new coal mines, the Ministry of Coal has placed on offer 122 coal / lignite mines on Wednesday under commercial auction of coal mines. Addressing the fifth tranche of auction launch, Union Minister of Coal, Mines & Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi said that 42 coal mines have already been auctioned successfully so far.
Along with ensuring energy security of the Nation this will provide employment opportunity to more than 1.17 lakh people, the Minister stated. The success of these auctions indicate that right steps are being taken by the Government to provide further momentum to the growth of Coal sector. Ministry of Coal is on the journey to reform the sector and unlock its potential, the Minister added. The recent reforms initiated in the coal sector will further strengthen the vision of Aatmnirbhar Bharat, Shri Joshi said.
The details of mines under different tranches for auction are as follows :
109 coal mines under 15th Tranche of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and 5th Tranche of Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957;
Four coal mines under Second attempt of 14th Tranche of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and Second Attempt of 4th Tranche of Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957;and Nine coal mines under Second attempt of 13th Tranche of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and Second Attempt of 3rd Tranche of Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957.
Of the109 mines on offer, 59 are fully explored mines and 50 are partially explored Mines. ones are spread across 11 coal/ lignite bearing states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Telangana.
The list of mines has been finalized post detailed deliberations and mines falling under protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries, critical habitats, having forest cover greater than 40%, heavily built-up area etc. have been excluded.
Key features of auction process include introduction of National Coal Index, ease in participation with no restriction for prior coal mining experience, full flexibility in coal utilisation, optimized payment structures, efficiency promotion through incentives for early production and use of clean coal technology. Further incentives are being contemplated by the Ministry of Coal with focus on sustainability.
The commencement of sale of tender document shall start from today. Details of the mines, auction terms, timelines etc. can be accessed on MSTC auction platform. The auction shall be held online through a transparent two stage process, on the basis of Percentage Revenue Share.
SBI Capital Markets Limited, sole Transaction Advisor to Ministry of Coal for the commercial coal mine auction, had devised the methodology and is assisting the Ministry of Coal in the auction.
