New Delhi: Coal India Limited (CIL) has intensified its efforts to acquire coal properties in Canada and an agreement in this regard will soon be signed with British Columbia, a province in Canada.

"The issue of CIL's operations in British Columbia was discussed at length by the visiting Premier of British Columbia Gordon Campbell during his meeting with Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayana Rao here today," a top Coal Ministry official told reporters. The British Columbian Premier said that his government is willing to extend all cooperation to enable CIL get a foothold in his coal resource-rich province.

Seeking help of the visiting Premier to facilitate CIL's operations, Rao suggested on signing a Memorandum of Understanding to identify the areas of cooperation for further expeditious action. He said, CIL's operations in Canada will mutually benefit both, as India has limited coking coal reserves and plenty are available in British Columbia.

Campbell assured Rao of all cooperation and invited him to visit the Canadian province at the earliest during when the MoU can be signed. CIL has already done some spadework when an official delegation visited British Columbia early this year and held discussions with the ministries of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and Economic Development of the provincial government besides holding talks with various Canadian companies, the official said.

Some Canadian companies, like Cline Mining Corporation and Colonial Coal Corporation, have offered alliance and joint venture opportunities for exploration and coal mining, he said.

Source : PTI