All coal blocks distributed between 1993 and 2008 were done in an unauthorized manner and allotment of all mines where production is yet to start should be cancelled, the Standing Committee on Coal

Ministries of coal & power have sided with PSU power utilities

The much-touted plan to optimally distribute the higher cost of imported coal among power producers via a price-pooling mechanism with cheaper domestic coal may go haywire. While a host of large upcoming private power projects would have increased their viability under the proposed regime, two key administrative ministries — those of power and coal — have virtually sided with public-sector power utilities, who fear losing their current cost advantage if price-pooling is implemented.

Expansion plan to cost Rs 11,547 cr, to add 1,320 Mw capacity

The Odisha government has approved construction and installation of the third and fourth units by state-owned Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) at its Ib valley plant near Jharsuguda. The two new units will add 1,320 Mw capacity to OPGC's existing power station at the site which has an installed capacity of 420 Mw.

60 power companies have signed FSAs while many have not signed citing varied reasons

The Coal Ministry has asked CIL to sign fuel supply pacts with the power generation companies, including NTPC, before finalising power purchase agreements with them.
"The Coal Ministry has directed Coal India Ltd (CIL) to sign Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) with power companies, including NTPC, without waiting for PPAs (power purchase agreements)," a source close to the development told PTI.

Allocates need to furnish status of end-use plants

The Odisha steel & mines department will process prospecting license (PL) and mining lease (ML) applications of coal block allocatees according to a checklist. The checklist approved by the department makes it mandatory for the allocatees to furnish status of end-use plants linked to coal blocks.
Information on the end-use project of the coal block should include capacity of the thermal or captive power plant (CPP) and up-to-date status of the plant regardless of whether it is located within the state or outside.

State-run power producer NTPC and Coal India (CIL) have agreed to begin third party sampling of coal from the state-run miner's collieries from Thursday.