Coal Ministry to Launch 13th Round of Commercial Coal Mine Auctions

New Delhi: The Ministry of Coal will soon open the 13th round of commercial coal mine auctions, offering 34 coal blocks for bidding. The launch will take place in New Delhi, with Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy as chief guest and Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey as special guest.

34 Coal Mines to Be Auctioned

The 13th round covers five coal mines under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015, and 29 under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Out of the 34 mines, 12 are fully explored while 22 are partially explored.

The ministry also confirmed that three blocks are being re-offered under the second attempt of the 12th round. These include two CMSP mines and one MMDR mine.

Boost for Investments and Domestic Supply

Commercial coal mine auctions were first introduced in 2020 to reduce India’s dependence on coal imports and open the sector to private players. Since then, repeated auction rounds have created fresh investment opportunities and improved coal supply for both the power and industrial sectors.

Reform Push Through the 13th Round

Officials say the 13th round will further strengthen the government’s coal sector reforms. The initiative aims to:

• Encourage private participation in coal mining
• Ensure reliable domestic supply to meet rising energy demand
• Support industrial growth and reduce import bills
• Promote transparency and competition in coal allocation

By sustaining the momentum of earlier rounds, the ministry expects the auctions to play a key role in India’s journey towards energy security and self-reliance.