(ET)
State-run monopoly Coal India Ltd is considering floating a joint venture with the country’s top power producer NTPC to set up plants at mines that do not have transportation access and acquiring private stressed assets.
The two state-run companies have held talks and are in the process of finalising terms of the joint venture after which a memorandum of understanding is likely to be signed, sources close to the development said. The proposed joint venture will look at setting up power plants close to mines that do not have coal evacuation infrastructure. “There are coal mines like Pachra and Sanghamitra in the Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) area that are read to produce but cannot be operationalised since there is no evacuation facility. The planned joint venture with NTPC will help set up power plants at mine mouth for optimum utilisation of the mines. A team from NTPC has already conducted site survey.