A New Era for Coal: India Launches 13th Auction Round

The Ministry of Coal will launch the 13th round of commercial coal mine auctions today in New Delhi. The event will be presided over by Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, with Minister of State, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, attending as Guest of Honour.

This latest auction round marks another milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to promote transparency, competition, and self-reliance in India’s coal sector. Since its introduction in 2020 under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the commercial coal auction framework has significantly increased domestic coal availability, reduced dependency on imports, and attracted both established and new players to the industry.

The 13th round offers a new set of fully and partially explored coal blocks under liberalized terms, designed to encourage investment, enhance ease of doing business, and meet the demands of India’s rapidly growing energy sector. The auction will also spotlight emerging opportunities in underground and surface coal gasification.

In addition, Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements (CMDPAs) will be signed for 11 mines allocated during previous rounds.

Industry leaders, investors, and key stakeholders are invited to participate in this strategic initiative to build a dynamic, competitive, and sustainable coal ecosystem, in alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.