From the energy security point of view Government has encouraged acquisition of coal assets abroad. Accordingly, Coal India Limited (CIL) has taken initiatives to acquire coal assets abroad through its Coal Videsh Division.
CIL has been granted prospecting licenses by the Government of Mozambique for two coal blocks in Tete Province, Mozambique. CIL has also set up a wholly owned subsidiary company in the Mozambique namely Coal India Africana Limitada (CIAL), for exploration and development of these coal blocks and the licenses have been issued in the name of this Mozambican subsidiary. CIAL has been operationalized through posting/short–term deputation of a multi-disciplinary team of senior executives/supervisors of CIL from mining, geology, finance, survey and personnel cadre in the city of Tete in Mozambique. Exploration and associated activities in the coal blocks have already been started.
CIL has also executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Provincial Government of Limpopo, South Africa for exploration and development of coal resources in Limpopo Province located in the northern part of South Africa.
The envisaged benefits for both Government and CIL by means of these acquisitions are mainly for enhancing availability of coal in meeting rapidly increasing coal demand in the country.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Coal, Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil in a written reply in Lok sabha today.