14 global consultants show interest in CIL mines modernizing

Fourteen international consultancy firms have responded to the expression of interest floated for technology development and modernisation of Coal India (CIL) mines, the coal ministry said Tuesday.

"Altogether, 14 international consultancy firms/organisations having experience in consultancy services for coal mining activities have responded. Examination of these responses has not been completed," Minister of State for Coal Pratik Prakashbapu Patil said in a written reply in parliament.

The minister said an expression of interest (EoI) was floated for inviting proposals from global consultancy firms for technology development and modernisation of CIL mines.

A panel has been set up to look into issues of technology up-gradation and modernisation of CIL through hiring of international consultants, the minister added.

The coal ministry has said that CIL had, in 2012-13, supplied 465.19 million tonnes of coal, which was 99 percent of its Annual Plan target.

The demand of coal in the country has been assessed as 769.69 million tonnes in the draft Annual Plan for 2013-14, Against this demand, supply from indigenous sources has been planned to be 614.55 million tonnes with a demand-supply gap of 155.04 million tonnes, which is envisaged to be met through imports, the ministry had said.