India’s mining sector to witness reforms, flurry of activities in 2021

NEW DELHI: The country’s mining sector will see “hectic activities” in the new year with the central government’s approvals for pending mining reforms expected in January itself and efforts continuing to bolster overall mineral output. The reforms will pave the way for auctioning of at least 500 mineral blocks, Mines Secretary Anil Kumar Jain told […]

India to put in place Coal Import Monitoring System from February 1

NEW DELHI: India will implement a Coal Import Monitoring System (CIMS) from February 1 that would require coal importers to submit advance information in an online system for import and obtain an automatic registration number. “The Coal Import Monitoring System (CIMS) shall require importers to submit advance information in an online system for import of […]

Western Coalfields to enter into joint venture with Orissa Mineral Development Corporation

Nagpur: CIL NSE -4.76 % subsidiary Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) will enter into a joint venture with Orissa Mineral Development Corporation (OMDC) for peak production capacity of 75 million tonnes of coal. Its Chairman and Managing Director Rajiv R Mishra also said 20 more mines will be opened by 2023-24, which shall sustain the production […]

Faster coal mine operationalisation to reduce import; prevent forex expenditure: M Nagaraju

New Delhi: The Centre, state governments, and coal block allocatees need to come together in a “coordinated and harmonious way” to operationalise the blocks at a faster pace as of the total 98 mines auctioned so far, only 33 are operational, Coal Additional Secretary M Nagaraju said on Thursday. He said that fast operationalisation of […]

Mines minister discusses with cement players strategies to simplify mining leases transfer

New Delhi: Union Coal minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday held a meeting with representatives of cement manufacturers and deliberated on strategies to simplify transfer of mining leases and promote exploration and mining activities. The meeting assumes significance in the wake of government earlier stating that the distinction between captive and non-captive mines will be removed […]

Coal PSUs to adopt alternate transport methods to replace road transport in large mines: Pralhad Joshi

New Delhi: Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday said public sector coal companies, including state-owned Coal India NSE -0.70 %, will adopt alternate transport methods, including mechanised conveyor systems, computerised loading onto railway rakes, among others, for movement of coal in large mines, replacing road transport. The minister, who chaired a meeting of […]

SC seeks reply from Centre, States on plea against coal blocks auction in densely forest areas

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from Centre and seven states on a plea challenging the decision to allocate/auction coal blocks for commercial mining in densely forested areas. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian issued notice and tagged the matter along with […]

Coal, power ministers discuss substituting imported coal with domestic fuel under ‘Aatmanirbhar’ campaign

NEW DELHI: Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday met his counterpart in the power ministry, R K Singh, and deliberated on substituting imported coal with domestic fuel as part of initiatives towards the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ goal. During the meeting, both ministers also deliberated on strategies for removing bottlenecks to augment coal suply in the […]