India's Ministry of Coal concluded the 11th round of commercial coal mine auctions, successfully awarding 12 coal assets to both private and public sector bidders. This move is expected to generate around 3,330 crore ($3.84 billion) in annual revenue, with substantial capital investment projected for the development of these assets.

The auction results reflect ongoing interest in India's domestic energy resources, aligning with the government's efforts to strengthen energy self-reliance while creating new job opportunities across coal-rich states.

The auction, which took place through an online competitive mechanism introduced in December 2024, included eight fully explored and four partially explored mines located in key coal-producing states such as Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha.

These mines hold geological reserves of approximately 5,759 million tonnes, with a cumulative peak rated capacityof 15.46 million tonnes per annum, excluding the partially explored blocks.

Analysts believed the pricing outcomes reflect confidence in future coal demand, particularly from India's power, cement, and steel sectors, which rely heavily on domestic coal supplies. The capital investment tied to this auction round is estimated at 2,319 crore, and the government expects mine development to create over 20,900 jobs, providing a significant socioeconomic boost to mining districts that face limited industrial diversification.