Over the years, coking coal availability to SAIL from Coal India Ltd (CIL) has gradually declined to around four million tonnes per annum, forcing the country's largest steel producer to import over 70 per cent of its requirement.
When contacted, CIL Chairman Partha S Bhattacharya said developing the Kapuria coal block will need foreign expertise, for which the company has floated an expression of interest, inviting potential companies.
"Once we get an overview of the cost of mining and specific availability and grades of coal, we will proceed for a joint venture with SAIL. An in-principle decision for the said venture has already been taken," Bhattacharya said.
The CIL Chairman added that "even if there was no alliance with SAIL for developing Kapuria, the entire coal reserve mined from the block will go to the PSU (SAIL), as BCCL has a long-term agreement for the same".
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