The Ministry of Coal has successfully auctioned three coal blocks in the 13th round of commercial coal mine auctions. Launched on 21 August 2025, the forward auctions were held between 20 and 25 November 2025, resulting in the allocation of three fully explored blocks with a combined Peak Rated Capacity (PRC) of 49 MTPA and geological reserves of about 3,306.58 million tonnes.

All three blocks—Pirpainti Barahat and Dhulia North in Jharkhand, and Mandakini-B in Odisha—were secured by Damodar Valley Corporation. The Pirpainti Barahat and Dhulia North blocks each received final offers of 5.50 per cent over a reserve price of 4 per cent, while Mandakini-B received a final offer of 12.75 per cent against a reserve price of 6 per cent. All three are non-coking coal blocks. No bids were received for the Takua block at the final offer stage.

The auctioned blocks are expected to generate annual revenue of around Rs 46,206.9 million, draw capital investment of nearly Rs 73.5 billion and create an estimated 66,248 employment opportunities.

Since the launch of commercial coal mining in 2020, 136 coal blocks have been successfully auctioned, representing a production capacity of 325.04 MTPA. Once operational, these mines will significantly enhance domestic production and advance India’s goal of achieving self-reliance in the coal sector. Collectively, these blocks are projected to yield annual revenue of Rs 433.3 billion, mobilise capital investment of Rs 487.56 billion and generate over 0.439 million employment opportunities across coal-bearing regions.

These achievements reflect the Ministry of Coal’s commitment to transforming the sector into a major driver of economic growth, supporting rising energy demand, boosting regional development and strengthening the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.