The coal ministry has received 78 valid bids for 21 of the 38 coal mines offered in the first auction of blocks for commercial mining, a key component of the Rs. 20-lakh crore stimulus. Aditya Birla Group companies Hindalco and Essel Mining, the Adani Group, Vedanta’s BALCO, and JSW are among 46 entities who put in a total of 82 bids.

The coal ministry has plans for a big push on the use of domestic coal to produce chemicals like methanol and fertilisers like urea through the gasification process for industrial use.

The Government of India has initiated the process of auctioningf 27 coal mines (21 - for end-use non-regulated sectors and 6 - for end-use iron and steel sector) and allotment of 15 blocks to public sector undertakings (5 - for power sector, 9 - for sale of coal and 1 - for iron and steel).

Telangana government is exploring the potential of Mine tourism. The plan includes developing abandoned mines as a tourist destination.

Coal India Ltd has decided to make use of the high tech equipments for both underground and opencast mining.

IEM filed on 01/07/2015 to undertake below ground mining of hard coal.

Plans to set up 1.6 GW pit-head power plant by 2015-16 in joint venture by 2015-16 near one of its coal mines where the rail connectivity is poor and evacuation of coal is not happening.

Setting up 1320 MW Barh Super Thermal Power Project at Patna. The 23,491 TPD coal linkage is allotted from Chhatti Bariyatu & Kerendari coal mines for the project. The BoP works was awarded to BHEL. As of July 2013 the Unit 4 and Unit 5 work is in progress, boiler erection completed, Boiler Hydro test expected to be completed by November 2013. Chimney shell (269 Mtr) completed, cooling tower RCC in progress. TG Box up expected to complete by Jan 2014. Unit 4 completion is expected by Nov 2013 and Unit 5 by Nov 2014.

Coal is one of the most important natural resources that power the growth engine of the economy. While considering plans to harness energy, the vital constituent among all the options available to a country is coal.