Reuters reported that Coal India Limited aims to increase output in the year to end in March 2010, but would also need higher imports to feed to the growing energy needs of domestic industries.

Mr PS Bhattacharyya chairman of CIL said that it plans to increase its production to 435 million tonne at the end of this financial year, up by 7.7% from actual production of 403.73 million tonne in 2007-08.

Mr Bhattacharyya said "We are planning to invest INR 29 billion to develop new projects."

He added that CIL would need to import 6.6 million tonnes of coal in the current financial year as compared to 4 million tonnes imported a year ago.

(Sourced from Reuters)