New Delhi: Today marked a significant milestone as the Nominated Authority, Ministry of Coal, officially opened the bids for the 8th round and second attempt of the 7th round of commercial coal mines’ auction. The auction process, launched on November 15th, 2023, saw active participation from various entities.
The online bids, encrypted for security, were electronically opened in the presence of the bidders. Following this, sealed envelopes containing offline bid documents were also opened in the bidders’ presence. The entire process was transparently displayed on the screen for the bidders, ensuring fairness and openness.
In the 8th round, a total of 35 coal mines were auctioned, attracting 7 bids against 4 coal mines. Simultaneously, the second attempt of the 7th round featured 4 coal mines, receiving 3 bids against all 4 coal mines. The mine-wise list of bids received is as follows:
- Bartap (Revised) – 8th Round (1 Bid)
- Binodpur Bhabaniganj – 8th Round (3 Bids)
- Marki-Zari-Jamani-Adkoli – 8th Round (2 Bids)
- Radhikapur (East) – 8th Round (1 Bid)
- Kudanali Lubri – 7th Round-2nd Attempt (1 Bid)
- Sakhigopal B Kakurhi – 7th Round-2nd Attempt (1 Bid)
- Machhakata (Revised) – 7th Round-2nd Attempt (1 Bid)
A total of 10 companies participated in the auction process, each submitting bids for various coal mines. The list of bidders includes OCL Iron and Steel Limited, JMS Mining Private Limited, Shyam Sel and Power Limited, SMN Tradecomm Private Limited, Maa Durga Coal & Minerals Pvt Ltd, Nilkanth Infra Mining Limited, NALCO, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation, TANGEDCO, and NLC India Limited.
The next step involves the evaluation of bids by a multi-disciplinary Technical Evaluation Committee. Technically qualified bidders will be shortlisted for participation in the electronic auction, which will be conducted on the MSTC portal. The results of this auction will play a crucial role in shaping the future landscape of commercial coal mining in the country.