India seeks WB aid to get abandoned coal mines going again

The Union Coal Ministry has sought assistance from the World Bank and other global institutions for re-purposing its abandoned coal mines to make them environmentally stable and suitable for commercial purposes. Indian officials are trying to make more coal available to power plants as shortages in the July-September quarter are forecast to be wider than initially estimated due to expectations of an increase in power demand. An unrelated report says the power ministry has deputed officials from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to visit Coal India’s (CIL) mines, taking upon itself the task of distribution of fuel to power plants. However, CIL insists that the situation is not critical or alarming. Also read India's domestic raw coking coal output to reach 140 mt by 2030MEAI calls for resumption of mining activities in Goa