NTPC appoints consultant for Indonesian mine

NEW DELHI: State-owned NTPC today said it has appointed a consultant for evaluation of a coal mine in Indonesia.

"Out of the two coal mines that we have identified in Indonesia, we have appointed the consultant for one of them but can not give you the name right now," NTPC CMD R S Sharma told reporters here.

Last month, Sharma said NTPC is exploring opportunities to source coal from abroad and has identified two more blocks in Indonesia for securing the dry fuel for its thermal power plants.

NTPC requires 150 million tonnes of coal during the current financial year to fire its power plants in the country and the company plans to import 12.5 million tonnes of the dry fuel from overseas.

NTPC has already appointed Australian firm Macquarie to do the due diligence for acquiring the Kalimantu coal mine in Indonesia. The company plans to buy a minority stake in the coal block.