The government has invited technical and financial bids for 38 coal blocks to be submitted for commercial mining. Sans the restrictive end-user clause in mining auctions, commercial mining is expected to boost output and rein in burgeoning coal imports. However, uncertainties persist about private participation in coal mining, especially at a time when core sectors of the economy are grappling with the pandemic-induced slowdown. Join us as we interact with our panel of experts on a plethora of pressing issues.
Date: Saturday, 17th Oct, 11:00 AM (IST), 1:30 AM (Singapore time), 9:30 AM (Dubai time)
Panellists:
- Mr A.K. Jha, Former Chairman, CIL
- Mr Somesh Biswas, Chief, Raw Materials Strategy Group, Tata Steel India
- Mr V.K. Arora, Chief Mentor, Karamchand Thapar & Bros. (Coal Sales) Ltd.
Points of discussion:
- Restrictive industry structure as a disincentive to private participation in coal mining
- Concerns related to quality of domestic coal, grade slippage
- National Coal Index, grade issues and rationale behind factoring in import prices in NCI
- Will commercial miners be able to match lower prices than CIL?
- Delay in approvals/difficulty in acquiring land as against facilities available to PSUs under Coal Bearing Act
- Evacuation and logistical concerns around blocks to be auctioned
- Renewables and new investments in coal mining – the broader picture