India to auction 39 coal blocks
India approved the auction of 39 coal blocks to state-run and private power companies to meet the demand for power.
The blocks would be awarded to government-controlled National Thermal Power Corp., Tata Power, Essar and Jindal Steel and Power Ltd.
“The (coal) ministry has cleared the allocation of 39 coal blocks for various government-owned and private power utilities to meet the growing needs of the power sector,” a Coal Ministry said official.
He said the ministry also allocated 10 coal blocks with reserves worth 6,075 million tons to state-run companies, while another 12 blocks with reserves of 800 mt were allocated to private companies under the captive mining dispensation.
According to a senior Coal Ministry official, another 17 blocks with reserves of 190 mt were allocated to central and state government-controlled companies for commercial mining.
With the latest allocation of coal blocks, India has allocated 163 blocks under its liberalization policy.
Information from: www.upi.com