State-owned NTPC is vying for a stake in Indonesian coal mines to secure long-term capacity while domestic coal supply continues to face hurdles in environmental clearances.

Discarding its age-old system of allocating coal blocks to steel, power and cement utilities through the screening committee route, the coal ministry has resolved to henceforth allocate all blocks through the competitive bidding process.

KOLKATA, 6 APRIL: Coal India Limited today said that it was facing some problems in raw coal offtake following non-availability of rakes by the Railways. As a result, there has been a meagre 3.6 per cent growth in raw coal offtake during the financial year 2009-10.

Ranchi, March 23: A coal mining company that supplies the precious mineral from Pakur to Punjab for production of electricity invited the wrath of both the Opposition and the treasury bench today for allegedly violating pollution and transport norms.

The coal industry has set a task for its former mentor, chief minister Shibu Soren. It has urged the new government to start laying of tracks in North Karnpura coalfields within five years.

State-run Coal India Limited (CIL) is under fire from the power and steel ministries for failing to deliver proper washed coal resulting in severe loss in power generation.

In a major shift from its policy to equip the state-run and private power utilities with captive coal blocks to meet their production needs, the Coal Ministry is now actively considering allocating nearly 130 blocks to its behemoth Coal India Limited (CIL).

THE government says it is not averse to opening commercial coal mining to private sector. It would do well to realise the urgency on this count and repeal the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973, which has reserved coal mining for public sector units.