The state run Coal India Limited (CIL) will develop 18 new unused coal mines. The Expression of Interest in this regard will be invited shortly. The new mines are located at the Bharat Coking Coal, Eastern Coalfields and Central Coalfields areas. More than 800 million tons of coal is expected to have in these mines.

Coal India Limited (CIL) has set a target of growth of 6.7 per cent in the present year. The Coal India chairman Mr Partha S Bhattacharyya said that the company recorded a profit of Rs 8,738 crore before tax in the 2007-8 financial year. The net profit was Rs8622 crore in the last financial year.

Coal India Limited (CIL) is a major source of coal production to satisfy the needs of thermal plants and other purposes in India. It extracts about 46 percent coal for electricity generation in India. CIL has earlier estimated 26 sites but it has found 10 mines having coking coal and other 16 having non-coking coal.  

ArcelorMittal and the Ispat group has reportedly contacted coal ministry to form joint vetthure with CIL.