Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says coal monopoly gone, private sector get access to space
16 May, 2020 | newsx bureau
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the fourth tranche of Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package announced the introduction of private sector participation in the coal sector. She also announced abo...
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that the Central government will introduce competition, transparency, and private sector participation in the coal sector and will do infrastructure development of Rs 50,000 crore. In the fourth tranche of Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package, Sitharaman also announced the introduction of a seamless composite “exploration-cum-mining-cum-production regime” while addressing a press conference along with Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur.
In the coal sector, private sector participation will be done through a revenue-sharing mechanism instead of the regime of fixed rupee/tonne wherein any party can bid for a coal block and sell in the open market. Moreover, entry norms will be liberalised as part of which nearly 50 blocks will be offered immediately. No eligibility conditions, only upfront payment with a ceiling, said the Finance Minister.
She said that the government will allow private sector participation in exploration. She added that coal gasification/liquefication will be incentivized through rebate in revenue share, which will result in a significantly lower environmental impact and will assist India in switching to a “gas-based economy.”
Govt will introduce competition, transparency, and private sector participation in the Coal Sector through revenue sharing mechanism instead of the regime of fixed rupee/tonne: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. #EconomicPackage pic.twitter.com/gMzYOSkbXU
— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2020
Diversified opportunities in the Coal Sector, investment of Rs. 50,000 crores: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. #EconomicPackage pic.twitter.com/cPMWhXKBzg
— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2020
Sitharaman said that infrastructure development of Rs 50,000 crore in the sector for the evacuation of enhanced Coal India Limited’s (CIL) target of one billion tonnes coal production by 2023-24 plus coal production from private blocks. This measure will also help reduce environmental impact. The Coal Bed Methane (CBM) extraction rights to be auctioned from the CIL’s coal mines, she said.
In the mining sector, Sitharaman said that 500 mining blocks would be offered through an open and transparent auction process. Also, a joint auction of Bauxite and coal mineral blocks will be introduced to enhance the aluminum industry’s competitiveness. She also informed about the removal of the distinction between captive and non-captive mines to allow the transfer of mining leases and sale of surplus unused minerals, leading to better efficiency in mining and production. “Rationalisation of stamp duty payable at the time of award of mining leases will be done,” she said.
The investment of Rs. 50,000 crores is for the evacuation of enhanced CIL's (Coal India Limited) target of 1 billion tons of coal production by 2023-24 plus coal production from private blocks: FM https://t.co/u9ZR8leyUj
— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2020
500 mining blocks would be offered through an open and transparent auction process, a joint auction of Bauxite & Coal mineral blocks will be introduced to enhance Aluminum industry's competitiveness: FM Nirmala Sitharaman pic.twitter.com/f8BjAbHXQ0
— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2020
Rationalisation of stamp duty payable at the time of award of mining leases: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. pic.twitter.com/znGmRAoqFI
— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2020
Six more airports will be auctioned on public-private partnership (PPP) basis to provide better facilities and improve customer experience, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.The bidding process will begin soon. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will get a down payment of Rs 2,3000 crore. “An additional investment worth Rs 13,000 crore is expected by private players in 12 airports.Besides, the restriction on utilisation of Indian airspace will be eased so that flying becomes more efficient. Only 60 per cent of the airspace is currently freely available.“The optimal utilisation of airspace, prediction in fuel use and time will have a positive environmental impact,” said Sitharaman. “It will bring a benefit of about Rs 1,000 crore per year for the aviation sector.”