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 of coal in the open market.
According to officials, the Coal Ministry would initiate amendments to the Mines, Minerals Development and Regulation Act (MMDRA) 2015 that would provide legislative backing to companies allotted captive coal blocks to offer entire volume of coal produced for merchant sale.