NLC India Ltd, ACC Ltd, and JSW Energy Utkal Ltd are among eight companies that emerged as the top bidders in the tenth round of commercial coal mining auctions.

The Coal Ministry initiated the auction in June, with forward e-auctions for nine mines starting on November 21. All nine mines—comprising three fully explored and six partially explored sites—were successfully auctioned.

Together, these mines hold a geological reserve of approximately four billion tonnes and a cumulative peak rated capacity (PRC) of 14.10 million tonnes per year, excluding the partially explored coal mines. (ET)