Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Rajya Sabha stated that Since the launch of commercial coal mines’ auction in June’2020, Vesting/Allocation Orders have been issued for 49 coal mines. 

Due to increase in energy demand, Ministry of Power vide letter dated 09.01.2023 directed Central, State Gencos and Independent Power Plants to take necessary action and immediately plan to import coal through a transparent competitive procurement for blending at the rate of 6% by weight so as to have coal stocks at their power plants for smooth operations till September 2023.