Coal Ministry likely to allocate 23 coal blocks

To quench the growing demand for minerals, the Government is in all probability to consider allocation of 23 coal blocks early next month. “The Screening Committee of the Coal Ministry would meet on December 7 to consider allocation of 23 coal blocks for the coal and cement sectors which have been seeking adequate raw material linkage for fructifying their expansion plans,” a top coal ministry official said.

With this, the Government will exhaust 203 blocks it had identified for the power, steel, coal, cement and sponge iron sectors. “Our key aim in allocating these blocks was to ensure that power generating companies were able to meet their production needs. Since the 11th Plan has set a target of additional power generation of about 78,000 megawatts, the best way to help the power generators was to ensure them adequate linkage,” he said.

Due to acute shortage of coal in the country, the Union Cabinet has given its go-ahead to the special purpose vehicle formed by leading PSUs for acquiring coal properties abroad to enable them meet their production needs.