It is reported that India and Indonesia are expected to form a joint working group for cooperation in the coal sector.
The report quoted Mr Sriprakash Jaiswal coal minister as saying that the move is aimed at streamlining and enhancing India’s coal import from the south East Asian nation. The two countries will form a joint working group to explore the possibility of buying more coal from Indonesia and to set up ventures with local companies there, Mr Jaiswal told newspersons said after a meeting on Monday with Mr Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Indonesia’s Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources to discuss scope for greater cooperation.
Mr Jaiswal said that “They have a lot of coal and we need more and more coal. There is a great room for extending our cooperation.”
Indonesia currently exports 20 million to 25 million tonnes of coal to India annually.
According to Government forecasts, India’s coal demand for the financial year ending March may rise 10% from a year earlier to 604 million tones. About 70 million tonne will be met through imports.
Source : The Hindu