Coal news and updates

MoC sets up panel for identifying additional coal blocks

May 14: The government has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Coal (MoC) for identifying additional coal blocks for allocation (auction purposes) with the approval of the competent authority, according to an official release.

The release further said that this panel may also:

• Identify coal/lignite blocks from the existing list for offer to various end-users through auction as well as under government dispensation.
• Identify additional coal blocks for offer from the areas explored in recent years, ie, after 2008.
• Examine the status of the development of the coal-bed methane (CBM) blocks and areas relinquished by the operators since the inception of CBM (Round One) and examine allotment of blocks from such areas where the potential from CBM is not significant.
• The panel could also examine the status of preparedness of CIL for the development of blocks already allotted to it and find the scope for re-allocation of such blocks keeping in view CIL's long-term production commitments.

Identify de-allocated blocks in which there is no legal dispute.