India and Australia have entered into a collaboration to boost trade and investment in the coal sector by focusing on upcoming mining techniques and services, coal to liquid and coal-bed methane projects.
The agreement is a white paper on "Action Plan for Indo-Australian collaboration on the Coal Sector", an official statement from the coal ministry said.
The main objectives of the Action Plan are to enhance opportunities in two-way trade and investments; increase bilateral cooperation and collaboration in the coal sector, including coal mining services, and identify and address barriers to trade and investment opportunities.
The agreement was signed by K S Kropha, Joint Secretary, Indian Ministry of Coal, and Bob Pegler, Australia's Head of Resource Division, Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.
As per the action plan, the two governments will focus on issues including: mining technology services; underground coal mining; underground coal gasification; coal to liquid technologies; coal bed methane technologies; coal washeries; sustainable mining practices, and skilling, training and capacity building....