In response to the ongoing energy supply crisis in West Asia, state-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) plans to auction 25.62 million tonnes of coal in April 2023. This move comes as disruptions in liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and crude oil supplies have increased coal demand, subsequently driving up import prices. CIL's auction will utilize the Single Window Mode Agnostic (SWMA) system, a unified and simplified e-auction platform launched in 2022 that consolidates multiple auction windows into one, enhancing transparency and market-driven procurement.

The auction will see contributions from various subsidiaries, including 8.5 million tonnes from Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) and 4.7 million tonnes from Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL). Notably, CIL has opened its auctions to buyers from neighboring countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal—allowing them to participate directly in the SWMA auctions starting January 1, 2026. This strategic move aims to better utilize surplus coal resources while maintaining domestic supply needs. In the previous fiscal year, CIL's production decreased by 1.7% to 768.1 million tonnes, reflecting the challenges faced in meeting coal demands amid fluctuating market conditions.