Coal news and updates

CIL not to participate in de-allocated blocks e-auction

November 14: Coal India Ltd (CIL) is not interested in participating in the e-auction of de-allocated captive coal blocks whenever it happens, a senior official from the company said.

“No. Why should CIL participate in the auction,” Director (Technical) N Kumar said when asked whether CIL will participate in the exercise for disposing of the de-allocated captive blocks.

“There has to be some logic for us to participate in the auction. CIL does not have shortage of blocks. In any case, the coal blocks to be auctioned are for end-use and not commercial mining. What end-use would we show? So, technically, on these grounds our participation in the auctions will not be possible,” Kumar said.

Asked what could be the possible loss to CIL in view of the government’s indication to allow commercial mining by private sector companies, the Director (Technical) said, “We (at CIL) are not going to be affected in any way. If the private sector companies are allowed to do commercial mining, let it so. In any case, they are not going to do mining in our blocks! Earlier too, the 204 blocks that had been de-allocated were lying with others only.”