India will end its 45-year state monopoly on commercial coal mining to encourage competition and raise productivity through private-sector investments. Under an auction system announced this week, the business that offers the highest sum per ton of coal to the state where a mine is located will win the mining rights. No restrictions will be placed on where the coal is sold or how it is used.
Coal is a key energy source in India, where 70 per cent of electricity comes from fossil-fuel power plants. But the country relies on imports to meet more than 30 per cent of its coal demand. The government hopes to stabilize the domestic supply and lower prices through private sector involvement. India had about 95 billion tons of coal reserves confirmed at the end of 2016, according to British energy giant BP. The government estimates that the country has a total reserve of 300 billion tons.
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