India’s coal ministry has allocated two coking coal mines, Rohne and Rabodih, to state-owned companies. The Jharkhand-based mines will add 10 million tonnes to India’s annual coking coal production.

Rohne has been allocated to National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) for the purpose of merchant coal sales, as well as to feed NMDC’s prospective steelworks at Nagarnar.

Rabodih has meanwhile been allocated to Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) for captive use in iron and steel production.

These mines will, over their lifetime, generate about INR 7,000 crore ($986.6 million) in revenue for the state government, besides royalties and other applicable taxes. Both NMDC and RINL will set up respective coal washeries.

The mines are in addition to five coal mines that have been allocated to successful bidders and a further six coal mines allocated to state-owned firms. In all, the 13 mines will add more than 35m t/y of coal supply in India.

India is reliant on coking coal imports, which rose 1.6% on-year in January-September to 38.88mt (see Kallanish passim). Last month the Indian government met Russian representatives in New Delhi to discuss increasing supply of coking coal from Russia’s Far East to India.