The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JUNE 17, 2025
In a defining moment for India’s coal sector, the Ministry of Coal has announced the allocation of its 200th coal block for commercial mining, marking a major milestone in the country’s push towards energy self-sufficiency and private sector participation. The allocation of the Marwatola–II coal block to Singhal Business Private Limited symbolizes the Government’s unwavering commitment to reforming and revitalizing India’s coal ecosystem.
The Ministry hailed this achievement as a crucial step in building a robust, transparent, and investor-friendly framework that enhances domestic coal output and reduces reliance on imports. “This 200th allocation demonstrates the success of our sectoral reforms and reinforces our long-term goal of ensuring strategic energy security through sustainable, indigenous production,” the Ministry said in an official statement.
Driven by a forward-thinking policy agenda, the coal sector has undergone significant transformation in recent years. The introduction of commercial coal mining, the implementation of a single-window clearance system, and the integration of digital monitoring tools have not only opened doors for private players but also reshaped the regulatory environment to make it more transparent, efficient, and responsive.
These reforms, the Ministry emphasized, are vital to strengthening India’s energy matrix and enabling faster operationalization of coal blocks. The cumulative benefits are expected to power economic growth, attract substantial private investment, and support the broader goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
In a parallel development underscoring growing industry interest, the Ministry’s Nominated Authority also opened bids for the 12th round of commercial coal block auctions. A total of 41 bids — both online and offline — were submitted for 11 blocks, with 38 valid bids received for 8 of them. The auction process, conducted in a transparent manner with real-time display of bid openings, drew participation from prominent companies such as Jindal Steel and Power Limited, NLC India Limited, Damodar Valley Corporation, Amalgam Steel and Power Ltd, and Penna Shipping Limited.
