Tata Steel plans to enter merchant mining

Global steel major Tata Steel is considering merchant mining as a new business vertical that will leverage its existing expertise in captive iron-ore and coal mining. “It is important for us to... 

India proposes legislative changes to blur distinction between commercial, captive coal mining

In a first step that would partially blur the distinction between captive and commercial coal mining, India’s Coal Ministry would amend mining legislation to enable companies free merchant sale... 

India plans fiscal sops for global firms to invest in battery facilities in the country

The Indian government is working on a package of direct fiscal incentives before inviting bids from global majors to set up battery manufacturing plants in the country under its ‘Make in India’... 

India increases number of windows for accepting EoIs for oil, gas exploration

In a bid to improve the ease of doing business and to woo foreign investors, the Indian government has decided to open three oil and gas bid windows every year, instead of two, under the Open... 

Coal India faces time overruns across 54 projects

A total of 54 out of State-run miner Coal India Limited’s (CIL’s) 120 coal mining projects are delayed, the company says in its latest financial statement. CIL reports that the major reasons for... 

India’s ONGC adopting enhanced oil recovery technologies

India’s national oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) major, ONGC Limited, expects to achieve 190-million tons of incremental crude oil production through adoption of enhanced oil... 

India’s ONGC Videsh to exit Sudan oil blocks

India’s national oil and gas exploration and production major, ONGC Limited, has decided to exit from its oil block investments in Sudan. The company exited its interest after the Sudanese... 

India relaxes contract terms for ongoing coal block auctions

Close on the heels of starting the auction process for 27 coal mines, India’s Coal Ministry has announced it is relaxing auction, and subsequent contract, rules to ensure a higher number of bids.... 

India starts fresh round of coal block auctions, alongside preferential allotment

India’s Coal Ministry has announced the auctioning of 27 coal blocks alongside the allocation of 15 blocks to government companies under the preferential dispensation rules. Stating the objective... 

CIL mine accident in Odisha taking toll on thermal power plants

Mounting protests over the death of four miners, paralysing production at one of the largest coal mines under Coal India Limited (CIL) in Odisha, has started taking a toll on power generation. Hit... 

Indian govt seeks institutional monitoring of the overseas investment of oil companies

The Indian government is working on a mechanism that will ensure regular and ongoing review of large overseas investments committed by government oil and natural gas exploration and production... 

Nalco in the national auditor’s firing line

Indian State-run National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) has been hauled up by the national auditor Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for a delay in developing captive coal blocks allocated... 

GAIL gas pipeline, marketing verticals to be unbundled

After much dithering and opposition from within the company, the Indian government is going ahead with plans to unbundle the operations of natural gas infrastructure and logistics major, GAIL... 

India expresses concern to Saudi Arabia over oil, gas transportation through Strait of Hormuz

The Indian government has expressed “serious concern” over current disturbances in the Strait of Hormuz region impacting on movement and freight costs of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG)... 

India’s national auditor hauls up NMDC

India’s national controller, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), has criticised State-run miner NMDC for setting production targets that do not correlate with market trends and for failing to do... 

India may negate distinction between captive coal, commercial mining

India’s Coal Ministry is working on a proposal to negate the legal distinction between captive coal mines operated by user industries and commercial mining by private merchant miners. The move to... 

Tight global supply puts low grade Indian iron-ore fines back on international buyers’ shopping lists

Tightening of supplies of iron-ore from global resource majors has triggered a spike in outward shipments of the steelmaking raw material through Indian ports and also put low grade fines back in... 

India’s ONGC established 230Mt crude oil reserves over last three years

India’s national exploration and production major, ONGC Limited, has established 230-million tons of crude oil reserves over the last three years, according to a statement placed before Parliament... 

Coal India starts financial year with flat production growth

Coal India Limited (CIL) has recorded almost flat growth in production during April to June, putting under a cloud the government’s ambitious target for the miner to achieve an 8.5% growth for the... 

Indian State-run companies drop investment plans in Adani’s LNG terminal project

Indian State-run oil refiner-marketer Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and gas infrastructure and logistics major GAIL India have passed up the option to pick up a 50% stake in a liquefied natural gas... 

Vedanta to invest $245m on Indian oil, gas blocks

Anil Agarwal-led resource major Vedanta Limited will invest around $245-million in natural gas and crude oil over the next four years in licenses it bagged for 10 blocks across India. Vedanta said... 

Chinese-US rare earth war could prompt India to overturn beach sand ban

Rising trade tensions between the US and China and the latter's threatening to leverage rare earth supplies in the trade war are likely to prompt the Indian government to reverse the ban on private... 

India halts Iranian crude oil imports amid US assurances on supplies

India has ended crude oil imports from Iran, following the US administration’s assurance of adequate supplies to meet the country’s import-dependent energy needs. While there has not been any... 

Indian iron-ore market dichotomy of rising imports, rising domestic production

A dichotomy in Indian iron-ore production/supply dynamics has emerged with the government claiming no shortage of the steelmaking raw material, while imports surge at the same time. In a statement... 

India’s Mines Ministry makes contingency plans for expiring mining leases

India’s Mines Ministry is drawing up contingency plans to offer a three-year extension for merchant mining leases slated to expire in March next year. Sources in the Ministry said that while the... 

Andhra Pradesh govt in southern India rescinds bauxite mining order

The newly elected government of southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has rescinded an order issued by a previous government permitting bauxite mining along the Eastern Ghats around... 

India plans incentives for oil, natural gas E&P investors

The Indian government is planning to frame an incentive policy for oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) companies. The new policy will incorporate some of the financial incentives... 

ONGC to outsource discovered small oil, gas fields while retaining ownership

In a bid to circumvent government plans to take away its discovered small fields (DSFs), national oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) major ONGC has decided to auction such assets... 

Indian power producers want more coal on rail to lower costs

Indian private thermal power companies are seeking to shift more coal from roads to State-run Indian Railways (IR) to bring down logistical costs. Private thermal power utilities reckon that... 

Modi intervenes to reopen closed Goa iron-ore mines

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stepped in to find a political and legislative solution for the 88 iron-ore mines that have been closed in the western coastal state of Goa since last year.... 

Indian aluminium producers seek protection measures

Ahead of India’s national Budget to be presented before Parliament next month, aluminium producers are seeking a slew of protection measures. Aluminium Association of India is seeking an increase... 

India national Budget likely to scrap import duty on LNG

The Indian government is considering scrapping an import duty on liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the forthcoming Budget to be presented before Parliament next month. Government officials say that... 

Petronet LNG completes expansion of Dahej terminal

India’s biggest natural gas importer, Petronet LNG Limited (PLL), has completed the expansion of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Dahej in the western state of Gujarat and is a step... 

Coal India Limited looking at coal asset acquisitions in Australia

State run miner Coal India Limited (CIL) has identified coking coal and high-grade thermal coal assets in Australia for strategic investments and will be appointing merchant bankers to conduct... 

Indian mining sector hit by dissension over expiring mining leases

With the expiry of mining leases (MLs) for 354 mines across India fast approaching and delayed fresh auctions looming large, sharp differences have surfaced among various stakeholders in the... 

Indian miners seek rescinding of ban on beach sand mining by private companies

Indian miners in the private sector are seeking a reversal of a government order that banned beach sand mining by private mining companies. Private sector miners, in a submission to the government,... 

NMDC floats global division to focus on overseas acquisition, expansion

Indian State-run miner NMDC has set up a department – NMDC Global – to impart greater focus on the acquisition of mineral assets overseas, enter into strategic tie-ups and access newer mining... 

NTPC aims for 10.4Mt of captive coal production this year

India’s largest power producer, NTPC, has set a target of mining 10.4-million tons of coal from its captive mines during 2019/20. According to a company statement, NTPC had set the coal production... 

Indian govt projects sharp drop in thermal coal imports but analyst disagree

India’s Power Ministry has estimated coal demand from domestic thermal power plants at 651-million tons in 2019/20. State-miner Coal India Limited has assured thermal power producers supply of... 

India’s new government likely to hasten inclusion of LNG in single-tax GST regime

The Indian energy sector is betting big on inclusion of liquefied natural gas in the goods and service tax (GST), following the electoral mandate received by the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party...