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The commercial coal block auction is likely to be carried out by March 2018, Susheel Kumar, Union Coal Secretary, said on Wednesday.
According to him, a Cabinet decision on the matter, which includes identification of coal mines, is expected within this month.
“A Cabinet decision is expected within this month. Thereafter the process will begin and it is likely to take time. Auctions are likely within this financial year,” he said on the sidelines of the MGMI-organised 7th Asian Mining Congress in Kolkata.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) will soon take a call on the methodology for the allocation of coal blocks for commercial mining, a top official has said.
Speaking about the sudden rise in power demand and coal shortage at power plants, Kumar blamed the power plants for not storing enough coal according to the guidelines of the Central Electricity Authority. “When demand rose they had no stocks,” he said, before adding, “I hope they have learnt their lessons. And they will stock in future”.
Asked if the shortage of coal would trigger a rise in imports, which was down this fiscal compared to last year, Kumar said: “I do not see imports going up.”
He said supplies have started improving in the non-power segment, too, and the situation is expected to normalise by December.
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