India’s cement producers, along with other sectors such as the captive power industry, will be able to take part in the fourth auction round of coal linkages, Coal India Ltd (CIL) announced.

Some 57Mt of coal were put on offer in the three previous rounds that have taken place since June 2016. The auction is conducted by MSTC Ltd.

The entire process of allocating linkages in this way is the result of a decision taken by the India’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs two years ago. The Cabinet Committee aimed at putting in place a transparent mechanism to enable the user sectors to secure coal linkages irrespective of the size of the industry or their geographic location, through a market mechanism.