Ministry of coal in consultation with coal India limited and central mine planning & design institute had identified three coal blocks viz. north of Arkhapal, west of Radhikapur and ramchandi promotional, having about 1500 million tonnes of geological coal reserves each, for development of coal liquefaction or coal-to- liquid technology in the country. This information was given by the Minister of State for Coal, Shri Pratik Prakash Bapu Patil in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
MOS said that as per the guidelines for allocation of coal blocks for coal-to-liquid project, one of the eligibility criteria was that, the applicant company should have minimum net worth of rs. 4000 crores. Accordingly Ramchandi promotional coal block has been allocated to m/s Jindal steel & power ltd. for its coal-to-liquid project.
The minister clarified that based on the recommendation of the inter-ministerial group (IMG) set up to review the development of coal block, now the allocattee company has been issued a show cause notice for delay in development of coal block.