Coal India Ltd (CIL) Chairman Partha S Bhattacharya said the coal reserve estimates of the country need to be "pruned down and made realistic". |
According to current estimates, the country has coal reserves of 222 billion tonnes, which include proven, indicated and inferred reserves. |
A significant part of this coal is however not mineable as it is located in inaccessible or sensitive areas like forests, making the reserve estimate somewhat illusory. |
Taking into account the mineable reserves, the country could run out of coal in 40-45 years. The government-owned company, however, expects to add more to the "proven and mineable" reserves category, said Bhattacharya. |
Though India is a coal-rich country, coal imports have been rising as production "" largely under CIL "" has failed to keep pace with demand. |
Bhattacharya also said CIL was trying to secure coal supplies overseas through its arm Coal Videsh Ltd. "We are looking at opportunities in Australia, Canada and Mozambique," he added. |