Coal news and updates

Next round of mine auctions by April-May: Swarup

April 16: After the stupendous success of the auction and allotment of 67 mines in February- March, the coal ministry is planning to put another 20 mines on the blocks by April-May, Coal Secretary Anil Swarup told ICMW.

“The next round of coal mines auctions will be held soon and about 20 mines will be auctioned in this round,” Swarup said on the sidelines of the International Conference on
Coal Washing in India, being held in Delhi on April 16-17.

Asked about the timelines for the next round, he said, it will be held by this month or the next.

About the increase in captive production as a result of the auction, Swarup said. “We expect captive production to go up to 70-80 million tons this year.”

Speaking at the conference, he urged the coal industry to complete the setting up of new washeries, about 16 of them by 2019.

He described environmental compliance as non-negotiable and said that enhancing the washing capacity was imperative for better utilisation and efficiency of burning coal as well as achieving environmental compliance.