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Reliance and Essar surge ahead in bidding for coal bed methane blocks
Economy
Published on 24 April 2026
16 blocks are up, but one major player suddenly exits
Reliance Industries and the Essar Group have emerged as top contenders in the coal-bed methane bidding round, after the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons offered 16 exploration blocks in two phases. Oil India has stayed in the process, while ONGC has withdrawn, narrowing the field just as interest from major energy players rises.
- DG Hydrocarbons put 16 coal-bed methane blocks up for bidding
- Reliance and Essar have stepped in as leading bidders
- Oil India remains engaged, while ONGC withdraws from the process
- Bids are being evaluated across two competitive rounds
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times