Central Government began the procedure for allocating Coal blocks and formed an Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) to review applications from companies for allotment of 3 Coal blocks on tariff bidding.
The 12-member Committee which considered members from the ministries such as power & law will evaluate the applications received and examine their eligibility on the basis of specified criteria and a comparative evaluation.
Total 36 applications are received by the government, which includes JSPL & Tata Steel. Companies submitting their applications in response to the earlier notice, which was invited for allotment of 3 Coal blocks.
The government has invited bids for Coal block allocation till the end of May, 2014. (Coal Block allocation invitation – more details…...)
Earlier in Feb’14, Ministry of Coal has put 3 Coal blocks on auction for captive use of non power sector. Out of the 3 Coal blocks, 2 are located in Jharkhand and 1 in West Bengal.
Jharkhand Coal Blocks
- Jhirki & Jhirki (West) of East Bokaro Coalfield with geological reserves of 267.91 MT Coking Coal for steel (blast furnace)
- The Tokisud-II of South Karanpura Coalfield has 127.692 MT reserves for cement plant
West Bengal Coal Block
- Andal Babuisol of Raniganj Coalfield has about 103.841 MT of reserves for Sponge iron
The government had allocated 17 Coal mines last year to central and state public sector units which include allocation of 4 blocks to NTPC.
The centre has also sets up panel of 9 members to identify more Coal blocks for auction, in addition to already selected 54 mines. The members will include from the Coal Ministry, CIL and its subsidiaries and office of the Coal Controller.
The Committee will examine the awareness of CIL for development of captive Coal blocks and also suggest for de-allocation of blocks, while keeping in view their long-term production commitments.
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