Coal India is planning to produce petroleum oil at its Chatra coal mine in Jharkhand. This is as part of the state-owned company’s diversification plan.
The company will soon invite an expression of interest for it, said Coal India chairman Sutirtha Bhattacharya.
Speaking to reporters, Bhattacharya said oil from coal can be used in automobiles. With crude prices on the rise, it will be a viable option for the company. Having been able to meet most of country’s coal demand, the miner now plans to diversify into related fields to keep its bottom-line healthy.
The company recently invited quotes from technology licensors for converting coal to chemical for a commercial project at Dankuni in West Bengal.
The Dankuni project is for a coal-based methanol plant which uses high-quality coal from Eastern Coalfields, the top official informed.
The Chatra mine comes under its subsidiary Central Coalfields.
