Coal India Ltd (CIL) has proposed acquisition and development of coal mines in foreign counties by the year 2017, Minister of State for Coal Pratik Prakashbapu Patil revealed.

In a written reply to the upper house of parliament (Rajya Sabha), Mr. Patil revealed that CIL had proposed an ad-hoc provision of Rs 35,000 crore for acquiring and developing coal mines in countries like South Africa, Australia and USA.

Of the total proposed sum, Rs 25,000 crore will be used to acquire and develop coal blocks.

The minister said, "Rs 25,000 crore has been kept for acquisition and development of coal blocks in other countries like South Africa, Indonesia, Australia, USA and Columbia"

The remaining Rs 10,000 crore will be spent on exploration and development works of two already acquired coal blocks in Mozambique, and also to create logistic infrastructure there.

Mr. Patil added that the annual production expected from CIL's coal assets in foreign countries would depend upon the particular production potential of each of such coal blocks or mines.

Meanwhile, CIL is reportedly planning to make third-party validation of coal samples obligatory for all future fuel supply agreements.

The coal giant's customers have long been complaining that sub-standard coal at high prices. Making third-party validation of coal obligatory will provide the rid of such complaints.

CIL accounts for 82 per cent of the 530 million tonne of annual production of coal in India.