Govt may hive off Coal India into separate listed firms to raise funds

International News

India may spin off units of Coal India Ltd, the world's largest coal miner, into separate listed companies to boost competition and raise government funds, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
The state-run company and the coal ministry are studying a proposal by the finance ministry's Department of Investment & Public Asset Management to list four of Coal India's biggest production units, as well as its exploration arm, said the people, who asked not to be named as the plan isn't public. The development is in an early stage and it was unclear how long it may take, the people added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has sought to sell some state assets to raise funds, and these divestments will continue to remain a priority, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said July 5, setting a record target of raising Rs 1.05 trillion ($15 billion) in the current fiscal year. Spinning off Coal India subsidiaries would also lead to greater competition in the domestic coal market and improve corporate governance, the people said.
A spokesman at Coal India didn't respond to requests seeking comment, while press officials at the coal and finance ministries declined to comment.
The four units -- Mahanadi Coalfields, South Eastern Coalfields, Northern Coalfields and Central Coalfields -- account for more than three-fourths of the company's output, while constituting less than half of its workforce. The fifth unit would be Central Mine Planning & Design Institute.

 India's state run coal giant has been unable to meet growing demand despite abundant resources. Coal India produced a record 607 million metric tons in the last fiscal year to March, falling short by 22 per cent of a target proposed in 2017...Read More

Govt to auction over 41 new coal blocks 'very shortly', says Prahlad Joshi

International News

The government plans to auction more than 41 new coal blocks "very shortly", Union minister Prahlad Joshi said on Wednesday.
He told the Lok Sabha that a number of important steps have been taken to augment and monitor coal dispatches to power plants.
In 2018-19, all commodities loading by the Indian Railways was 1,223.29 million tonnes, out of which coal loading was 605.82 MT, which is almost 50 per cent, the Coal and Mines minister said.
A committee, comprising coal and power secretaries, and Member (Traffic) of Railway Board reviews coal transportation and supply on a regular basis.
Responding to supplementary queries during the Question Hour, Joshi said, "we are going to auction more than 41 new coal blocks very shortly".

 He also said that coal production as well as demands are increasing in the country...Read More

Seamless passenger transfer as Emirates, SpiceJet enters code sharing deal

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Company News
The passenger transfers at Dubai airport and service differentiation will not be an issue, said Dubai-based airline Emirates as it entered into a code share agreement with SpiceJet on Monday.
Emirates is the largest foreign airline operating to India and its home base, Dubai, is the largest overseas hub for Indian travellers.

Emirates and SpiceJet signed a memorandum of understanding for code shares which will allow passengers from India more travel options.

At present, Emirates operates from Terminal 3 while Spice Jet works from Terminal 1 in Dubai. Also, Emirates is a full service airline with first class and business cabins and full fledged loyalty programme while SpiceJet offers no frills and charges passengers for meals.

An Emirates spokesperson, however, said these issues will not impact passengers."There will be no change to the current transfer process between terminals at Dubai international airport. Passengers are transported via an inter terminal shuttle bus which operates between terminals every 20 minutes," Emirates said in a statement.

"It is not uncommon in codeshare partnerships to have mixed cabin itineraries and customers are not averse with this as a seamless connectivity and quicker overall journey takes priority. The codeshare partnership will enable Spicejet customers to experience Emirates’ renowned product and service," the airline added.


 Emirates said SpiceJet passengers travelling from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Amritsar, Jaipur, Pune, Mangalore, Madurai, Kozhikode and 41 other domestic destinations that the airline operates to, will be able to access Emirates’ expansive network across the globe.

Tata Power may pull the plug on new coal power, says study

Company News

Tata Power, the country’s largest private integrated power producer, is likely to cease building new coal-based generation projects, shifting gears to renewable power sources, a study showed.

A report by the US-based Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis (IEEFA) titled ‘Tata Power: Renewables to Power Growth’ spells out the company’s long-term strategy that will see renewable energy dominate its power capacity build-out going forward.

Presently, thermal power accounts for around 70 per cent of Tata Power’s portfolio. But the current energy mix is part of the company’s long-term legacy before 2013 when renewable energy was pricier compared with competitive coal-fired power.

“The company’s plan, ‘Strategic Intent 2025’ calls for up to 70 per cent of new capacity additions to come from solar, wind and hydro through to 2025. This represents a significant departure from the accepted wisdom of just a few years ago that a major expansion of coal-fired power would be required to serve India’s growing electricity demand”, said Simon Nicholas, energy finance analyst at IEEFA.

Tata Power’s debt laden and stranded power asset at Mundra (Gujarat) is viewed as the trigger for the company to abjure fresh coal-fired capacities.

“The Mundra plant is making consistent, significant losses that are dragging back the company’s overall financial performance. Tata Power’s experience at Mundra has helped convince the company to turn away from new coal-fired power”, Nicolas said.


 Tata Power had not responded to Business Standard’s questions sent by mail till the time this report was filed.

Adani urges Australian govt to give 'a fair go' for coal mine project

Company News
Indian energy giant Adani has urged the Australian government to give its controversial coal mine project "a fair go" and indicated that the opposition party would not derail the proposed billion dollar project if it comes to power.

Gautam Adani-led Adani Group entered Australia in 2010 with the purchase of the greenfield Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin in central Queensland, and the Abbot Point port near Bowen in the north.

The massive coal mine in Queensland state has been a controversial topic, with the project expected to produce 2.3 billion tonnes of low-quality coal.

''All we're every asking for a fair go and to be treated like everyone else. I think at certain points, that has not been the case. We're certainly not whining about it. We just want to get on with it now. We want a fair go," Adani Mining chief executive officer Lucas Dow, told Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

He said the sort of scrutiny that the project was facing on the management plans was unprecedented.
The Adani project which still requires to clear few more approvals from the Queensland Government, including groundwater modelling, recently received the clearance from the federal government for development.

Commenting if the mine project could run any risk if the Labor Party comes to power, Dow said "I think (Federal Labor) has been crystal clear that if they are to form a government they won't be in the habit of creating sovereign risk by ripping up the existing approvals."


 He said that he was satisfied by recent assurances given by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and his Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen.