The Ministry of Coal said on Wednesday that it has received proposals from 22 businesses, including Jindal Steel and Power and Hindalco Industries, for the commercial extraction of coal from 18 thermal and coking coal mines.

The majority of mines have thermal coal deposits used in power generation, while one has a variety used in the steelmaking process. According to the government, half of the mines have been fully investigated, while the other half have been partially explored.

The fully explored mines have a combined capacity of 47.8 million tonnes per year.

Sunflag Iron and Steel, miner NLC India, NTPC's mining subsidiary, and cement and ready-mix concrete company Nuvoco Vistas are among the other bidders.

As power demand rises, the government wants private actors to increase coal output in the country. Coal India, a state-owned enterprise, controls the country's coal mining industry.

See also:
Coal blocks with washeries could be open for bidding by steel firms
Ministry of Coal has issued vesting orders for a total of 22 mines