Coal India Ltd has been named the preferred bidder for the Gadadharpur iron ore block in Odisha's Kendujhar district, the Maharatna company said in a BSE filing on August 6, 2026. The disclosure was submitted under Regulation 30 of the SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations.

The domestic mining opportunity was awarded by the Government of Odisha. According to the filing, the block is at the G3 exploration stage and has total resources of 288 MT. Coal India's preferred-bidder status is subject to the process and timelines detailed in the exchange disclosure.

Key terms disclosed by Coal India

  • The mining lease carries an auction premium of 114.05% of the value of mineral dispatched, payable to the Government of Odisha.
  • Coal India has one year to become the successful bidder.
  • The mining lease deed is to be executed within three years.

The filing identifies the transaction as domestic and relates specifically to the Gadadharpur iron ore block in Kendujhar district. Coal India described the nature of the order as its selection as preferred bidder, distinguishing the current status from becoming the successful bidder and executing the mining lease deed.

The disclosed auction premium is linked to the value of mineral dispatched rather than a fixed contract amount. Coal India did not provide a separate rupee consideration or order value in the filing. The resource figure disclosed for the G3 exploration-stage block is 288 MT.

Related-party disclosures

Coal India said its promoter, promoter group and group companies have no interest in the Government of Odisha, the entity awarding the mining opportunity. It also confirmed that the transaction does not fall within related-party transactions.

The exchange communication was signed by B. P. Dubey, Executive Director, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer of Coal India.

The disclosure gives investors defined milestones for the process: one year for Coal India to become the successful bidder and three years for execution of the mining lease deed. These timelines form part of the terms reported to the stock exchanges.

Coal India filed the information with BSE, where the company trades under scrip code 533278, and with the National Stock Exchange of India. The company submitted the details as an order and contract disclosure under SEBI's listing regulations. The filing does not state when mining operations may begin or provide production, revenue or investment estimates for the block.