Coal India Ltd (CIL), which was awarded two exploratory coal blocks in Mozambique in March this year, has decided to set up a wholly-owned subsidiary in that country to expedite the exploration process.
“CIL will form a separate company for carrying out coal mining activities in Mozambique. This company will be a fully-owned subsidiary of CIL and will forge a joint venture (JV) with a state run mining firm in Mozambique,” a top CIL official told Business Standard.
The CIL subsidiary will have an 85 per cent stake in the JV, while the remaining 15 per cent will be held by the Mozambique-based mining company. The modalities of the JV company were yet to be decided, but a breakthrough was expected during the upcoming visit of a high-level Indian delegation to Mozambique. The delegation, which includes the Union coal ministry officials as well as the top brass of CIL, is expected to take up the issue of the proposed JV company to start exploration of the coal blocks.
In March this year, CIL was awarded two exploratory coal blocks — A1 and A2 — in Tete province of Mozambique, having an estimated reserve of one billion tonnes. While the exploration of these two coal blocks, spread over 224 sq km, was set to commence within a few months, the mining activities were expected to begin after three and a half years.
Prior to carrying out mining operations in Mozambique, the Navratna coal company was to distribute artificial limbs in that war-ravaged nation. CIL has also announced the setting up of a premier mining institute in Mozambique, on the lines of the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad.
Apart from Mozambique, CIL had also stepped up its efforts to acquire stakes in coking and thermal coal assets in Australia. CIL has called for Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from mining firms in Australia in this connection by the end of August. The coal major was keen on entering into a strategic partnership with Australian mining firms having proven expertise in mining for developing the coal assets.
