Ministry allocates coal blocks

New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Coal is learnt to have approved the allocation of 23 coking and non-coking coal blocks to leading steel, cement and power producers, including Essar, Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL), Grasim, Monnet and Ispat.

While four coking coal blocks have been allocated in Madhya Pradesh, the remaining 19 non-coking blocks are in West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, according to official sources here. This was decided at the meeting of the Screening Committee of the Coal Ministry held last week.

The committee decided to allocate the Behrabandh coking coal block to Vinod Mittal-led Ispat Industries on a sharing basis with Essar, Mukand Steel and Ind Synergy.

Of the total 170 million tonnes reserves, Ispat Industries was allocated 70 million tonnes, while Essar and Mukand 53 million tonnes and 25 million tonnes respectively. Orissa’s Ind Synergy got the remaining.

The committee has also approved the Urtan coking coal block, which has an estimated reserves of about 42 million tonnes, to Jindal Steel and Power and Monnet Ispat on a sharing basis.

Of the major non-coking coal blocks, Moira and Madhujore (North and South) in West Bengal were allocated to the Adhunik Group on a sharing basis with Uttam Galva, ACC, Vikas Metal and Power, Mideast Integrated and Ramsarup Lohh Udyog.