Neyveli Lignite plans to acquire coal blocks in Mozambique, Indonesia and Australia.

Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) planning to acquire coal blocks in Mozambique, Indonesia and Australia. The company has said that it would require around 10 million tonnes of imported coal, besides the coal allocation in India. Speaking to Business Standard NLC's Chairman and Managing Director B Surender Mohan said that the company is looking at mines which got capacity of about 200-250 million tonnes per annum. "We are looking at mines which can supply coals for long time, say minimum of 20 years," said Mohan, adding that the company is open for other join venture and acquiring mines. The company will appoint one agency which would take care of these deposits. In the next six months will finalise and will acquire or form a JV, said Mohan. Addressing the shareholders earlier, he said that for the 1,000 MW thermal power plant of NTPL under implementation the company's proposed 4,000 MW Thermal Power Project at Sirkali, Tamil Nadu, the company would require two million tonnes of coal initially. He added, this could increase to 10 million tonnes at a later period of time. The company earlier issued a notification seeking Expression of Interest for acquiring coal blocks abroad.