Seven Coal Blocks Auctioned in 12th Commercial Round, Boosting Domestic Production.

The Ministry of Coal has successfully auctioned seven coal blocks in the 12th round of commercial auctions, a ministry statement confirmed this week. The auctions, which took place from July 28 to July 31, saw three fully explored and four partially explored blocks go to bidders.

Launched on March 27, the 12th round of auctions has brought a significant boost to India's coal reserves. The seven blocks hold a combined geological reserve of approximately 1,761.49 million tonnes. The total Peak Rated Capacity (PRC) for the fully explored blocks is 5.25 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).

The auctions were highly competitive, with the average revenue share reaching 26.70%, according to the Ministry. This strong interest "reflects the sustained interest of industries in the coal sector and the Ministry's efforts to provide a stable and transparent policy framework."

These newly auctioned blocks are projected to generate an annual revenue of about ₹719.90 crore and attract a capital investment of around ₹787.50 crore. The projects are also expected to create approximately 7,098 new employment opportunities.