2 coal blocks auctioned

The second day of the second trench of coal block auctions ended with Trimula Industries Ltd bagging the Meral mine in Jharkhand for the non-power sector, while Mandakini Exploration and Mining Ltd got the Mandakini mine in Odisha for the power sector.

“Meral coal block closes at Rs 727 per tonne by Tirumala Industries,” Coal Secretary Anil Swarup tweeted. Trimula bagged the mine by outbidding two companies—Easternrange Coal Mining Pvt Ltd and Usha Martin Ltd. Meral mine, earlier allotted to Abhijeet Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, is in the Palamau district of Jharkhand and has extractable reserves of 12.67 million tonne.

Mandakini mine in Odisha for power sector was bagged by Mandakini Exploration and Mining Ltd after quoting the highest bid of Rs 636 per tonne. The firm outbid several others, including Adani Power Ltd, Adani Power Maharashtra Ltd, GMR Mining and Energy Pvt Ltd, Jindal Power Ltd and Wigeon Commotrade Pvt Ltd.

There will be no auction on Friday on account of Holi. However, on March 7, three blocks—Tara (for power sector) and Nerad Malegaon and Dumri mines (for non-power sector) would be on offer.