CIL’s international arm Coal Videsh Ltd CVL is bidding for drilling, exploration and mining rights in a 75 square kilometer Greenfield Zimbabwean coal block in the Whangi province. It plans to set up a joint venture with Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority Holdings Pvt Ltd for the purpose. The Central Mine Planning and Design Institute will carry out the exploration work on behalf of CVL in Zimbabwe. The drilling expenses are pegged at Rs 6 crore.

CVL is also in the process of firming up plans for exploration rights for a coalfield in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. CVL is also firming up plans to acquire stakes in coal mines in Mozambique for coking and thermal coal, Australia for coking coal and South Africa for thermal coal. It is reported that CVL may go for a mix of outright purchase, block allotment or take up an unexplored area for exploration.