OREANDA-NEWS. Essar Energy plc [LSE: ESSR], announced that Mahan Coal Limited has secured stage 2 forest clearance from the government of India's Ministry of Environment and Forests for its Mahan coal block in Madhya Pradesh. Mahan Coal Limited is held 50% by Essar Power Limited (98.27% subsidiary of Essar Energy plc) and the Mahan coal block was originally allotted in 2006. This clearance is subject to the fulfilment of some further conditions. Mahan Coal Limited will now be required to sign a mining lease agreement with the state of Madhya Pradesh before commencing mining operations.

Essar Energy (LSE:ESSR) is a world class, low-cost, integrated energy company with an established track record.

Essar Energy, through its subsidiaries, owns one of India's largest private power producers with 3,910MW of installed capacity and projects under planning and construction to expand its capacity to 6,700MW.

Essar Energy, through its subsidiaries, owns one of India's fastest growing private sector oil and gas companies with a diverse portfolio of exploration and production assets. The Vadinar refinery, located in Gujarat, is India's second largest private sector oil refinery with throughput capacity of 20 million metric tonnes per annum, or 405,000 barrels per day. The Stanlow refinery is the UK's second largest refinery with throughput capacity of 296,000 barrels per day, or 14.6 million metric tonnes per annum.