Strong Industry Response to 14th Round of Commercial Coal Block Auction; 49 Bids Received for 24 Blocks.
New Delhi:
The 14th round of the Commercial Coal Blocks Auction witnessed encouraging participation from industry stakeholders, with 49 bids received for 24 coal blocks out of the 41 blocks offered, reflecting sustained interest in India’s commercial coal mining framework.
The Nominated Authority of the Ministry of Coal opened the bids on Tuesday through a transparent and fully digitised process. The online bids were decrypted and opened electronically in the presence of bidders, followed by the opening of sealed envelopes containing offline bid documents. The entire process was displayed live on screen for the bidders, ensuring complete transparency and fairness.
A total of 11 companies participated in this round of the auction, including five new entrants bidding for the first time under the commercial coal mining regime. The entry of new players highlights growing confidence in the policy framework and the expanding opportunities within India’s coal sector.
Officials noted that the coal sector continues to play a crucial role in driving economic momentum as India advances towards its goal of becoming the world’s third-largest economy. The robust response to the auction underlines the sector’s importance in supporting industrial growth and strengthening the country’s energy security.
The bids received will now be examined by a multi-disciplinary Technical Evaluation Committee. Based on the evaluation, technically qualified bidders will be shortlisted for participation in the electronic auction, which will be conducted on the MSTC portal.
The continued positive response to commercial coal block auctions reinforces the pivotal role of the coal sector in ensuring reliable energy supply, promoting investment, and contributing significantly to India’s long-term economic growth.
