Ministry of Coal Launches 11th round of Commercial Coal Mine Auctions

New Delhi: 05 DEC 2024:  Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, launched the 11^th round of Commercial Coal Mine auctions today with a total of 27 coal blocks on offer at New Delhi.

These 27 coal blocks are spread across the states of Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh and include both fully explored and partially explored mines including 1 coking coal mine.

The Ministry has also executed 9 agreements with successful bidders of the 10^th round of auctions. These mines upon operationalisation will generate Annual Revenue of Rs. 1,446 crores calculated at PRC of these coal mines and will employ approximately 19,000 people.

The Ministry of Coal has taken a series of reforms to ensure that the coal sector grows at a rapid pace and is able to meet the country’s energy needs. For the 11^th round also, Mines falling under protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries, critical habitats, having forest cover greater than 40%, heavily built-up areas, etc. have been excluded. The block boundaries of some of the coal mines where there was presence of dense habitation, high green cover critical infrastructure etc. have been revised to improve the attractiveness of the coal mines.

Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, emphasized that coal remains the cornerstone of India’s energy landscape, asserting that power generation is unimaginable without it. He highlighted the transformative impact of coal block auctions in achieving energy security, fostering self-reliance, and reducing dependency on imports. Urging industry players to participate enthusiastically in 11th round of auctions, he called for collective contributions toward realizing the vision of an energy-independent Aatmanirbhar Bharat, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Union Minister, Shri Reddy reaffirmed the Government’s dedication to boost domestic coal production to meet the nation’s energy demand. The Minister further reiterated the Government’s commitment to uplift local communities, emphasizing that coal auctions and mining activities go beyond economic growth. They also aim to empower communities by creating employment opportunities, improving infrastructure, and enhancing education and healthcare in coal mining regions. Shri Reddy expressed confidence that these reforms would position India as a global leader in sustainable mining practices while ensuring energy security.