Ministry of Coal is set to launch the 15th round of commercial coal mine auctions on April 17, alongside a stakeholder consultation in Mumbai aimed at strengthening the country’s energy security.

The consultation, themed “Atmanirbhar Bharat: Coal for Energy Security”, will bring together industry participants, policymakers, and other stakeholders to discuss opportunities and challenges in the coal sector. The event will be attended by senior officials, including Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt.

The coming round of auction will have a fresh batch of coal blocks including both fully explored and partially explored mines. The government aims to attract established mining firms alongside new technological firms in order to increase competitors and investment in the sector.

This is one of the measures taken by India within its coal industry reforms that were introduced when commercial mining was made open in India in 2020.

According to the Ministry, the auctions will be carried out in fairly relaxed conditions aimed at easing the business environment and increasing participation. The project is also anticipated to create job opportunities and help in improving the supply of coal to various industrial sectors.

Coal mining operations have been made a significant part of the Indian energy policy, aiding in providing a stable source of energy that can be utilized for the generation of electricity and other industrial purposes.

This conference will be a great forum where all the stakeholders in the industry will get a chance to address various policy-related issues and plan strategies for the future development of the industry.