Government on Wednesday annulled the process for fourth round of coal block auctions, scheduled for the next month on account of poor response from bidders in sectors like steel as well as depressed commodity prices and adverse market conditions.

The Government had last month kick-started the process to auction nine blocks for sectors like iron and steel, cement and captive power plants.

“We have not got sufficient number of bids to carry on with the coal block auctions. We have received 15 bids for nine blocks... So in view of this, we had to annul the process,” Coal Secretary Anil Swarup told reporters here.

Swarup said the coal mines to be auctioned were earmarked for non-regulated sectors, like iron and steel, cement and captive power plants, which have been impacted due to adverse market conditions.

He said it appears that due to slackness in demand and the pressure in the steel and aluminum industry, which consumes most of the coal within the country, there were not many bids.

“As of now it appears that demand or financial commitment that they have to make (bidders from steel etc sector) in terms of acquiring these mines... They may not be in a position to do so because of the general condition of the market,” he said.

The Secretary said the Government will wait for the right time for the sale of these mines.

“We will look at the market situation and offer again. Right now it appears that in general commodity prices are depressed so are the coal prices... Companies that would have bid are not financially strong at this point of time,” he said.

The fourth round of mines auction was slated for January 18-22.

The previous three rounds of auction generated proceeds of more than Rs 3 lakh crore, which would be realised over 30 years by states where the mines are located.

The coal blocks, which were to be put under the hammer were Brahmapuri and Suliyari in Madhya Pradesh, Bundu and Gondulpura in Jharkhand, Gondkhari and Khappa & Extn in Maharashtra and Jaganathpur A and Jaganathpur B in West Bengal besides Bhaskarpara mine in Chhattisgarh. Anil Swarup said there has been a phenomenal growth in coal output and added that virtually there has been a 40 per cent slump in imported coal price across the board.

“Coal India and and Singareni Collieries Company ltd (SCCl) are doing very well and cumulatively SCCl and Coal India are doing 10.5 per cent,” the secretary said.

On the improved supply of coal in the country the secretary said “look at the margins that are available in e-auction coal.”

“The e-auction margins have come down quite dramatically by almost 65 per cent. International coal prices have come down.”

Elaborating on the total number of bids received by the Coal Ministry, the Secretary said in seven coal blocks “there are less than three (bids). So in any case they go... In two (coal blocks) three tenders documents have been purchased.”