Indian Minister of state for coal Sriprakash Jaiswal is currently on a visit to Australian coal mining regions in New South Wales and Queensland to scout for coal assets in the region.
To meet the energy needs of the country, which is likely to face a potential thermal coal shortage of 200 million tonnes a year by 2012, the minister has toured NSW Hunter Valley and Emerlad in Queensland.
"It's my duty to visit all the countries where coal is available and Australia is one of those countries where coal is available — and superior quality coal is available," he was quoted as saying by an ABC report today.
"India is looking to secure more coal because more than half of its electricity comes from coal-fired plants, so we are in search of some foreign coal," he said.
Jaiswal told the news channel that even though Chinese companies have been making acquisition moves in the Australian resource sector, he does not think that India will be at a disadvantage.
"That doesn't make any difference. India and Australia's relationship is very strong, and very old." he said
