CIL should acquire assets abroad, says ex-chairman
27 Sep 2012 2:20 AM GMT
State-run Coal India should actively pursue acquisition of assets abroad, its former chairman P S Bhattacharya said on Wednesday. Talking on the sidelines of the 6th Indian Coal Markets Conference organised by SAIL and Tata Steel promoted e-Commerce company, mjunction, Bhattacharya said it was currently an opportune time for Coal India Ltd [CIL] to explore assets in Australia.
CIL, which accounts for 80 per cent of domestic production, is unable to satisfy the growing demand for coal in India, resulting in the need for more imports.
'In order to fill the gap in the current year's coal production for energy needs our import requirement is to the tune of 80-85 million tonnes of coal,' said Bhattacharya.
Australia is the world's largest net exporter of thermal coal and Bhattacharya said the current drop in world prices of the resource makes it an attractive prospect for acquiring mining assets. 'Falling coal prices has touched off a spate of asset sales as tough times spread from Australia to Indonesia and could boost deal activity in what has been a lean year in the mining sector,' he said.
'Australian companies, like mining giant BHP Billiton to smaller iron ore producers, are all in lock-down mode. They have shelved projects and cut output at high-cost mines to weather the downturn in iron ore and coal prices, and are considering asset sales.'
China's coal output in the first eight months of 2012 has fallen 7.9 percentage points year-on-year as per China National Coal Association [CNCA].
CIL, which accounts for 80 per cent of domestic production, is unable to satisfy the growing demand for coal in India, resulting in the need for more imports.
'In order to fill the gap in the current year's coal production for energy needs our import requirement is to the tune of 80-85 million tonnes of coal,' said Bhattacharya.
Australia is the world's largest net exporter of thermal coal and Bhattacharya said the current drop in world prices of the resource makes it an attractive prospect for acquiring mining assets. 'Falling coal prices has touched off a spate of asset sales as tough times spread from Australia to Indonesia and could boost deal activity in what has been a lean year in the mining sector,' he said.
'Australian companies, like mining giant BHP Billiton to smaller iron ore producers, are all in lock-down mode. They have shelved projects and cut output at high-cost mines to weather the downturn in iron ore and coal prices, and are considering asset sales.'
China's coal output in the first eight months of 2012 has fallen 7.9 percentage points year-on-year as per China National Coal Association [CNCA].
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