A total of 38 bids were received by the coal ministry during three rounds of commercial coal mines' auctions, it said on Tuesday, the PTI reported. The coal ministry in a statement said that the online bids received as part of the auction process will be opened on Tuesday from 10 am onwards in the presence of interested prospective bidders.
"The last date for submission of online technical bids for all the coal mines was 1200 hours on June 27, 2022, and offline submission was 1600 hours on June 27, 2022," it said.
According to the coal ministry statement, a total of 28 offline bids were received against 15 coal mines under fifth tranche of commercial mines' auction. Under second attempt of third tranche, a total of nine coal mines were put up for sale and six bids have been received against them, the statement said. Under second attempt of fourth round, a total of four coal mines were put up for auctions and four bids have been received against three coal mines.
According to the report, the fifth round, second attempt of fourth and third tranche of commercial coal mine auctions, were launched by the the coal ministry in March.
In 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the auction of 41 coal mines for commercial mining. He said that this is a major step in making India self-reliant in energy sector.
While launching the auction of mines for commercial mining, the prime minister said India will win the coronavirus war and turn this crisis into an opportunity, and the pandemic will make India self-reliant.