Jaiswal on 10-day trip to Europe to seek coal technology

Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal on Monday left on a ten-day tour to three European nations --Czech Republic, Belarus and Poland -- to seek technology for underground coal mining.

Jaiwal is heading a delegation that includes Alok Perti, special secretary, Ministry of Coal and Coal India Chairman N C Jha among others.

Earlier this year, the minister had made a visit to South Africa, seeking modern technology for underground coal mining. He had sought cooperation for underground coal gasification and coal benefication technologies from South Africa.

South Africa had offered the expertise of its companies in setting up coal washeries, deep coal mining technology and clean coal technology in India while inviting investments in the South African coal sector.

Both the countries had also agreed to exchange research and development initiatives in the area of extraction of coal-bed methane before exploiting coal resources.

Further, Jaiswal had said that Coal India was interested in acquiring coal assets in the South African nation, and that cooperation with the African nation's government was aimed at bridging the growing demand-supply gap at home.