State-run Coal India Ltd has invited expressions of interest for hiring consultants who will assist the public sector firm to acquire coal resources abroad.
“In its pursuit of acquiring coal resources abroad, CIL intends to create a panel of internationally reputed tax and accounting consultants to assist CIL in this mission,” the company said on its website.
The EoIs, which opened early this month, will close next month, it said.
The PSU has put together a war-chest of Rs 6,000 crore for the acquisition of mines overseas. The development came in the wake of Finance Ministry approval for the public sector firm to go ahead with buyout of overseas firms that are unlisted.
The company will take up three offers — in Australia, Indonesia and the US, a CIL official had said earlier.
Coal India is eyeing mines overseas to bridge the demand-supply gap which is likely to touch 142 million tonnes this fiscal.
According to the Planning Commission, this gap is likely to reach about 200 mt in 2016-17.