- MCL contributes over 63% of total offered volumes
- Lower-grade thermal coal dominates combined offer basket
Coal India Ltd’s (CIL) subsidiaries Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) and Northern Coalfields Ltd (NCL) have collectively offered around 4.35 million tonnes (mnt) of coal in their e-auctions scheduled for 30 June 2026. The combined basket includes steam coal, run of mine coal and washery rejects across grades ranging from G4 to G14, with road mode accounting for the majority of the offered quantity.
MCL emerges as largest contributor
MCL has offered around 3.11 mnt of coal in the upcoming auction, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the combined volume offered by the three subsidiaries. The basket is heavily skewed towards G14 coal, with around 1.8 mnt on offer, representing nearly 58% of MCL’s total quantity, while the grade carries an average notified price of INR 930/t, making it one of the most competitively priced segments in the auction.
LBL Integrated OCP has emerged as the largest source, offering 607,000 t, followed by Hingula OCP with 428,200 t and Samleswari OCP with 405,000 t. The company has also offered significant quantities of G13, G12 and G11 coal from mines such as Lajkura, Kulda, Bhubaneswari, Ananta and Siarmal.
In addition, MCL has included 200,000 t of washery rejects from the IB Valley Coal Washery, further expanding the fuel options available to industrial consumers.
ECL’s offers from Rajmahal coalfield
ECL has placed around 1.01 mnt of coal under auction, with the Rajmahal coalfield accounting for the bulk of the offered quantity. Rajmahal OC and Hura C OC together contribute around 800,000 t, representing more than half of ECL’s total offering.
G13 ROM coal forms the backbone of ECL’s offering, with 500,000 t available from Rajmahal OC at an average notified price of INR 1,716/t. The company has also offered substantial quantities of G11 steam coal, totalling 200,000 t from Rajmahal OC and Hura C OC at an average notified price of INR 2,154/t, alongside 100,000 t of G12 ROM coal from Hura C OC carrying an average notified price of INR 1,801/t.
Among the premium-grade offerings, Sonepur Bazari OC stands out as the largest contributor, offering 120,000 t of G4 steam coal at an average notified price of INR 3,557/t, with a significant portion earmarked for dispatch through rail mode. The auction basket also includes weathered grades W03, W04 and W06 from several underground and opencast mines.
NCL focuses on higher-grade thermal coal
NCL has offered 228,000 t of non-coking coal, comprising G7, G8 and G10 grades. Unlike MCL and ECL, NCL’s basket is largely concentrated in relatively higher-grade thermal coal.
G8 coal dominates NCL’s offer basket, with 129,000 t available at an average notified price of INR 2,231/t, primarily sourced from the Khadia and Dudhichua projects. Khadia has offered 75,000 t through road mode, while Dudhichua has placed 54,000 t under auction through a combination of road and rail dispatches.
Amlohri has emerged as the largest individual source in NCL’s auction basket, offering 75,000 t of G7 coal through road mode at an average notified price of INR 2,840/t, the highest among the grades on offer. Meanwhile, Block B has placed 24,000 t of G10 coal under the auction at an average notified price of INR 1,660/t, comprising 20,000 t through road mode and an additional 4,000 t through rail dispatches via Block B Silo.
Lower grades dominate overall availability
The upcoming auctions highlight the continued availability of lower-grade thermal coal across CIL subsidiaries. MCL’s G14 coal and ECL’s G13 ROM coal together account for more than 2.3 mnt of the total offered volume, underscoring the growing preference for cost-effective fuel among industrial consumers.
While lower grades dominate the combined basket, NCL’s offering provides consumers access to relatively higher-calorific-value G7 and G8 coal, creating a broader mix of fuel options across regions.
Road mode remains preferred evacuation route
Road dispatches account for the majority of the nearly 4 mnt offered across the three subsidiaries. However, significant rail-linked parcels from MCL’s integrated projects, ECL’s Sonepur Bazari and Bankola areas, and NCL’s Dudhichua and Block B silos provide additional flexibility for consumers requiring long-distance transportation.
With substantial volumes available across multiple grades and mining regions, the auctions are expected to attract participation from sponge iron producers, cement manufacturers, brick kiln operators and other non-regulated sector consumers seeking thermal coal supplies ahead of the monsoon season.
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