India seeks coking coal supply from Australia for steel sector

India today urged Australia to consider supplying coking coal to the domestic steel industry on priority basis.
"There is a huge potential for consumption of coking coal in India. Our country is looking for reliable raw material suppliers. I think Australia can consider supply of coking coal to Indian steel Industry on priority basis," Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma told Minister of Industry and Resources, Australia, Ian Macfarlane.
Verma is leading a high-level delegation to Australia and New Zealand on a five-day visit for strengthening ties in the areas of mining and coal supply and met Macfarlane, an official statement said.

Verma said India planned to "increase steel production to 300 million tonnes (MT) from the present level of about 80 MT. Our coal requirement is also set to rise in a decade's time" and stressed the need for exploring the possibility of a long term agreement between Australian miners and Indian steel producers for coking coal.
Talking about cooperation between India and Australia in the field of mineral exploration and its trade, Macfarlane said that Australia has been supplying coking coal to India and understands the potential of Indian steel industry, the statement said.
Macfarlane was of the view that the relationship between the two countries should be taken forward, it added.

Steel Minister Verma also met Julie Bishop, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Australia during a meeting of Australia-India Business Council, the statement said adding, "Discussions were held on forging collaborative partnerships between the two countries in the areas of mining and coal trade."
Sharing his views about the steel industry and on issues of the economic cooperation during Australia-India Business Council, Verma invited Australian businessmen to jointly collaborate with Indian companies in areas of mining and coal trade.
The Indian delegation led by comprises Chairman, SAIL, NMDC and ICVL, C S Verma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel, S Abbasi, CMD, MOIL G P Kundergi and CEO, ICVL, Ajay Mathur.