New Delhi The coal ministry has proposed a sovereign fund to facilitate the acquisition of coal properties abroad. The proposal comes following the demands from steel, fertiliser and power companies that have been trying hard to buy mineral assets in countries like Indonesia and Australia.

“Though Coal India has surplus resources for investing outside, it is important to have financial support from the government for acquiring very large assets abroad," coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal told reporters on the sidelines of a CII conference.