Coal news and updates

6 utilities yet to submit mine infrastructure papers

February 11: As many as six companies or prior allottees, mainly state power generation companies -- such as West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL), which together owned a total of 17 operational coal mines that have since been de-allocated by the Supreme Court in September 2014, have not yet provided information or documents for valuation of “mine infrastructure”.

The ministry has directed all these companies to submit the documents before it by end of February 11, an official said.

Incidentally, all the prior allottees of Schedule II (operational mines) were asked by the ministry through a letter issued on November 28, 2014 to provide the documents, but these six companies have not yet provided the details.

Incidentally, the companies – WPDCL, West Bengal State Electricity Board, Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL), Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) and Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RRVUNL) – have already been shortlisted to participate in the auction of working mines reserved for power sector companies, the process for which started on February 9.

These companies might not have provided the necessary documents in the assumption that they are going to win back the mines in the auction, industry sources said.

The following table provides details of blocks and the allottee companies that have been asked to provide the document: