Centre Weighs Mining Kit Imports From Britain

India is examining the possibility of importing state-of-the-art underground mining equipment from the United Kingdom at extremely favourable terms for improving productivity levels in some of its identified coal mines.

This was disclosed by the Union minister of state for coal (independent charge), Syed Shahnavaz Hussain here late Monday evening.

Hussain, who is in city to review the performance of Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) and its Durgapur open-cast project, said he was impressed by the advancement in mining technology in Britain and their high productivity and safety standards.

He said he had even entered an underground mine in UK to get first hand experience of mining conditions. Hussain said he sensed an opportunity during his tour of the UK in April last where a number of mines had been exhausted and sophisticated machinery manufacturers were searching for new customers.