MSTC as a catalyst in power sector reforms

 In line with the policy of e-governance and digital India, the Government of India has focused its vision on digitizing transactions so as to achieve transparency, competition and budget optimization. To this end, MSTC is assisting in achieving the said objectives by creating a wide range of e-bidding applications. MSTC has been in the business of digitizing transactions since 2002 and has created awareness about the benefits of e-bidding to many government departments and PSUs.

With the vision of have “POWER FOR ALL” by 2019, the Ministry of Power embarked upon various ambitious projects in the power sector in the right earnest. To begin with, MSTC was asked prepared a e-bidding solution for allocation of subsidy to the Stranded gas based power plants in India. Ministry of Power allocated a Power Sector development fund to the tune of 7500-cr. A solution was devised that enabled Gas Based Power Plants to receive this subsidy by an electronic bidding wherein the plants which could produce the maximum units of electricity with minimum amount of subsidy would get priority. 4800 MW of idle power generating capacity has already been revived so far and two more rounds of auctions will materialize in the next few months.

Earlier, MSTC conducted the first ever electronic Coal block allocation in India. Coal mine allocation has already been the grandest and most successful electronic event in the country. 70 coal mines have already been allocated to various end users in private and government sector through online competitive bidding method in a time bound, trouble-free and transparent manner. A total of 204 coal blocks will be allocated through e-Auction by MSTC Limited. 

Hindustan Times, Kolkata, Thursday, 25th February, 2016

Times of India, Kolkata, Sunday, 28th February, 2016

First mineral auction under new law to fetch Chhattisgarh govt Rs 4,413 croreAccording to the new MMDR Act, state governments have to auction their non-coal mineral mines through a two-tier forward-bidding process

Chhattisgarh became the first state on Thursday to successfully conclude the first phase of non-coal mining auctions.

The state government will get an additional Rs 4,413 crore over the life of lease in addition to royalty, district mineral foundation, national mineral exploration trust contributions, tweeted Union Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

“Congratulations to Chhattisgarh government and officials of mines ministry of the Indian government for bumper success of mining lease auction done for the first time in the country,” he said in another tweet.

Successful completion of the auction process in one of the top mineral-rich states has given relief to the central government, which was worried as the first phase auctions saw an extremely slow start.

At the start of 2015, the government was planning to complete the first phase auction process of 80 odd mines by end-November. However, only four states had issued notice inviting tenders for 27 mines till then as the states were hesitant from inexperience in the auction process.

According to the new Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2015, state governments have to auction their non-coal mineral mines through a two-tier forward-bidding process. Before this Act, mines were handed out to miners on discretionary basis by the state governments. Mineral auction rules under the new mines Act state bidders will have to quote the percentage of the value of the mineral dispatched from the mine in a month in the first round. The highest initial price offer would be considered the floor price for the second round of auction.

Subsequently, the bidders would be ranked on the basis of the descending initial price offer submitted by them. The first 50 per cent of the ranks, or the top five bidders, whichever is higher, would be termed qualified bidders for participating in the second round of e-auction.

The second-round auction will follow the simple forward-bidding process, where the bidder quoting the highest percentage would be deemed the winner.

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 Business Standard, Kolkata, Friday, 19th February, 2016

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The Economic Times, Kolkata, Wednesday, 17th February, 2016 

LAUNCH OF NATIONAL PORTAL FOR E-AUCTION OF POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT(PPA) ELECRAMA16, BANGALURU

Shri Piyus Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of State for Power Independent charge interacting with Shri S K Tripathi CMD, MSTC during the Review, Planning & Monitoring Meeting(12th) with State & State Power Utilities on 13th Feb. 2016 at Bangaluru .

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Indian Express, Kolkata, Friday, February 19, 2016
The Times of India, Kolkata, Friday,February 19, 2016

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MSTC Plans e-Auction for Coal Supply ContractsThe Economic Times, Kolkata, Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

The government has asked public sector entity MSTC to create an e-auction platform for fuel supply agreements that would be given out to non-power sector.The platform, to begin with, will conduct e-auction for 24 million tonne of coal for companies that do not have any supply contract from Coal India.

“We are readying the platform that would be used to auction fuel supplies to non-power sector,“ said S K Tripathi, chairman MSTC.

Eventually government will also auction coal supply contracts for the power sector its main client, however, it is not likely to happen before April this year.

Last week, the government declared that long term coal supply contract for sectors like steel, ce ment, and aluminium, will be granted only through e-auctions.At present existing coal supply contracts will continue but they would be auctioned once these expires “The auction route will be followed for all future contracts, once the existing fuel supply agreements lapse. Hence to start with it would be about 24 million tonnes which would gradually increase as and when supply agreements lapse,“ said Tripathi.

According to reports the govern ment has drawn out the schedule for the e-auction the exercise for which is likely to start in the next 710 days. The government is targeting to hold the first set of auctions by April end and has asked MSTC to prepare the portal for the e-auctions. Coal India has achieved a 9.8% growth in coal production till January this financial and all power companies are flushed with coal.This leaves Coal India with the option of making sure it manages to sell all the coal it produces or it may be forced to revise its production targets downwards. E-auction is likely to help the company achieve its sales targets for the year which is pegged at 550 million tonnes.

Coal India has been allowed to sell 25% of its incremental coal production through e-auction which would help it liquidate stocks and bring down inventory which has touched 40 million tonnes.

MSTC e-Shopping MallA step forward in the process of “DIGITAL INDIA” dream

Raipur, 07, February,2016: Shri Chhagan Lal Mundra, Chairman, Chhatisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC), inaugurated the workshop on MSTC e-Mall on 7^th February, 2016 amidst the fraternity of steel & sponge iron manufacturers at Raipur. He appreciated MSTC for organizing such an event at Raipur and termed the initiative taken by MSTC as an excellent opportunity for the buyers and sellers of the state who deals in steel and steel related items. He also assured his support to MSTC in the implementation of the ambitious project of “Digital Chhattisgarh” on the foot steps of “Digital India” campaign.

The workshop of MSTC e-Mall was organized by MSTC Ltd. in association with five steel associations of the state viz., Chhattisgarh Mini Steel Plant Association, Chhattisgarh Steel Re-Rollers Association, Chhattisgarh Sponge Iron Manufacturers Association, Chhattisgarh Iron & Steel Agents Association and Raipur Iron & Steel Trade Association.

The unique concept of e-Shopping mall portal was highlighted for the online transaction for Sale & Purchase of steel related bulk raw material, semi-finished goods and finished goods. The portal provides single window solution for both seller and buyer for making transaction starting from searching, comparing the products, selection of product, and thus taking a most informed decision for the purchase by online payment to taking delivery with availing logistics, all at one place.

The event commenced around 12:00 noon with the Lightning of Lamp by Shri Chhagan Lal Mundra, the chief guest of the event. Shri B. B. Singh, Director (Commercial), MSTC Ltd., welcomed all the dignitaries. In his welcome speech, he introduced MSTC Ltd. having the robust e-Commerce platform and only e-Commerce Government Company in the country, which is soon going to roll-out the e-Mall for B2B segment for steel related items.  He further added that it is an unique idea for selling and buying experience of bulk material and will offer a hassle free, and time efficient business transaction along-with cost effectiveness. He stated that in future, the product range will be increased to cater to the needs of buyers for various products in steel sector.

The members of associations actively participated in the interactive session where suggestions and feedback made by them were taken into consideration by MSTC to enhance the efficacy of the proposed portal. The concept and initiative taken by MSTC for e-mall was highly applauded and appreciated by all the members present. The workshop was first of its own kind in the state of Chhattisgarh and was a grand success being an informative event for the participants.

MSTC Ltd., a Government of India Enterprise, under the administrative control of Ministry of Steel, is already a familiar and renowned name in the Chhattisgarh for its e-Commerce activities. MSTC is involved in e-sale of ferrous & non-ferrous scrap, prime coal, rough diamonds, chrome ore, lignite, ferro manganese, iron ore, property, etc. MSTC is also associated with a mineral rich Chhattisgarh State Government for auctioning of Mining Lease and Composite License for Non-Coal Mines.

The event was concluded with the vote of thanks by Shri A. K. Basu, Director (Finance), MSTC Ltd.

Content published in Hindustan Times, Delhi Edition, 1st February, 2016