NLC India, JSW Steel, JSPL, NTPC Mining are among the bidders in 10th round of commercial coal mine auctions. A Coal Ministry statement said 43 bids were received against 16 mines out of the 61 on offer in this round.

At 11, the highest number of bids were received for the Ulia Gamhardih mine in Chhattisgarh.

ACC Limited, Adas Mining and Infra Private Limited, Ind Synergy Ltd, Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited, and SM Steels and Power Limited also participated in bids. State government-owned UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited submitted bids for two mines.

At 17, Odisha has the highest number of mines on auction in this round. Another 15 are in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh each, six are in Jharkhand, three in Bihar and West Bengal each, and one in Telangana.

Besides these, six coal mines are being bid out for the second time after an earlier attempt did not elicit much response.

Among these, 38 block are partially explored which means companies will need to undertake extensive studies to better assess mine potential. Bids for these mines were called in June this year.