Coal India scouts for coal blocks abroad

Kolkata, Nov 16 (UNI) Coal India Ltd (CIL) is in talks with Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) to scout for international coal blocks producing metallurgical coal.

" Coking or metallurgical coal is in short supply by around 40 per cent. We are holding talks with SAIL and RINL to scout for coal blocks abroad," CIL chairman P S Bhattacharyya told reporters here today.

CIL is looking at Canada, Australia, South Africa and Latin America for bidding for the coal blocks.

" We are looking out for countries which have lesser procedural hassles," Mr Bhattacharyya said.

CIL would form special purpose vehicle (SPV) through its subsidiary Coal Videsh to bid for the coal blocks in consortium with RINL and SAIL, the chairman said.

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