New Delhi: Coal India Limited (CIL), the state‑owned coal miner, has for the first time allowed foreign coal consumers to directly participate in its online Single Window Mode Agnostic (SWMA) e‑auctions, the company said in a regulatory filing on Friday, 2 January 2026. The move took effect from 1 January 2026 and was disclosed to the stock exchanges under SEBI’s listing regulations.
Under the revised framework, buyers from neighbouring countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal who wish to import coal from India can now register and bid alongside domestic buyers in CIL’s SWMA auctions, a unified e‑auction system introduced to streamline coal procurement. Previously, such overseas participation was possible only through domestic coal traders acting as intermediaries.
The updated auction mechanism includes provisions for one‑time registration, digital bidding, advance electronic payments and export through notified logistics channels, the company said. Payments will be governed by Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) rules, with Nepalese buyers permitted to pay in Indian rupees or US dollars, while buyers from Bangladesh and Bhutan must pay in US dollars, with valuation in rupees.
CIL said the decision is aimed at enhancing transparency, competition and global market integration while safeguarding India’s domestic coal requirements. The move is expected to help better utilise surplus coal resources and strengthen international coal trade linkages.
Market response
Coal India’s share price rallied sharply on the development, climbing as much as 7 percent to a fresh 52‑week high on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Friday. The stock gained around 6.6 percent, trading near ₹427.50, as investors reacted positively to the expansion of potential buyer participation and future demand prospects.
The company’s SWMA platform, launched in 2022, replaced multiple auction windows with a simplified and unified digital system, enhancing efficiency and price discovery for all buyers. Opening the platform to direct foreign participation marks a significant shift toward broader market access for India’s largest coal producer.
