Coal India May Get to Produce CBM From Its Mines

India plans to allow Coal India to produce coal bed methane gas from its coal blocks, Wall Street Journal reported Thursday citing a statement by Oil Secretary Vivek Rae.

The move is aimed at reducing country’s import of energy products by enhancing domestic output, Wall Street said.

The oil ministry is expected to seek the approval of the cabinet in about two weeks for its policies on coal-bed methane and shale gas, Rae was quoted as saying.

India has so far auctioned 33 coal blocks exclusively for gas production, but only a few of them currently produce gas. The oil ministry is also considering allowing gas production from blocks allotted to companies for mining coal, Wall Street Journal added.