Private companies may be permitted to commercially mine coal.

The Modi government will initiate the process of allowing private companies to commercially mine coal and end the state monopoly after the public offer of shares of Coal India Ltd. (CIL), official sources said.

'The new government is keen to allow private firms into commercial coal mining to increase supply of the fuel in the country. But we are not opening too many fronts at this moment. We will start discussions with stakeholders on commercial mining only after Coal India's public offer,' a senior coal ministry official said. Aroadmap to allow private commercial mining of coal will be prepared after an in-principle nod from all stakeholders is secured, he said.

ET