Strong Response to 14th Commercial Coal Blocks Auction

25 Dec 2025 CW Team

The Ministry of Coal today opened bids for the 14th round of the Commercial Coal Blocks Auction, recording encouraging participation from industry stakeholders and reaffirming confidence in India’s commercial coal mining framework.

Under this round, bids were received for 24 coal blocks out of the 41 blocks on offer, with a total of 49 bids submitted. The opening of bids was conducted by the Nominated Authority through a fully transparent process. Online bids were decrypted and opened electronically in the presence of bidders, followed by the opening of sealed envelopes containing offline bid documents. The entire procedure was displayed live on screen for participants, ensuring transparency at every stage.

A total of 11 companies took part in the auction, including five new entrants bidding for the first time under the commercial coal mining regime. The participation of first-time bidders reflects growing industry confidence in the policy framework and highlights the expanding opportunities within India’s coal sector.

The Ministry said the bids will now be examined by a multi-disciplinary Technical Evaluation Committee. Based on the evaluation, technically qualified bidders will be shortlisted for the next stage—the electronic auction—to be conducted on the MSTC portal.

The sustained response to commercial coal block auctions underlines the coal sector’s continued importance in supporting industrial growth and strengthening the country’s energy security. As India advances towards its goal of becoming the world’s third-largest economy, commercial coal mining remains a key pillar in ensuring reliable domestic energy supply while attracting private investment and enhancing operational efficiency across the sector.

The government has consistently emphasised transparency, competition and ease of participation in the auction process, measures that have helped widen industry participation and reinforce confidence in India’s commercial coal mining ecosystem.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Aug 2026

Surya Roshni delivers customised lighting for NCRTC RRTS stations

Surya Roshni has supplied customised indoor lighting solutions for 18 elevated stations on the National Capital Region Transport Corporation's (NCRTC) Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS), strengthening its presence in India's infrastructure lighting segment.The project involved the design and deployment of lighting systems for platforms, concourses, foot overbridges (FOBs) and back-of-house (BOH) areas. According to the company, the luminaires were developed specifically to meet NCRTC's design, operational and performance requirements rather than using standard products.Surya introduced two custo..

Hilton debuts Tapestry Collection brand in Vietnam

Hilton has opened NHAAN Resort & Spa Hoi An, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking the debut of the Tapestry Collection brand in Vietnam and expanding its lifestyle hospitality portfolio in Southeast Asia.Located along the Co Co River in Cam Thanh village, the 174-key resort provides access to Hoi An Ancient Town, Cua Dai Beach and the Cam Thanh Nipa Forest. The property has been designed by Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia, incorporating biophilic architecture, locally sourced materials and riverfront landscapes.The resort offers a mix of guest rooms and suites, including family-frien..

Electrent expands lithium energy storage system portfolio

Electrent Energy has expanded its lithium-based energy storage portfolio with the launch of the ESS 850 and ESS 1050, targeting compact and maintenance-free power backup solutions for Indian homes.The new systems integrate a Home UPS and a LiFePO4 lithium battery into a single unit, extending the company's product range following the launch of its ESS 1350 and ESS 2500 models.Designed for apartments and smaller homes, the ESS 850 provides up to 1 hour 15 minutes of backup, while the ESS 1050 offers up to 1 hour 45 minutes on a typical 400 W household load. The systems can power essential appli..