The company said it had decided to withdraw because India’s Steel Authority (SAIL) was also in the running for Tahmoor.
“It makes no sense to separately bid because we would have imported coking coal from the company and would have in turn supplied it to Sail. We talked to Sail officials last week and have decide to stay away," Coal India chairman Shashi Kumar told Business Standard.
He said the company had shifted focus to other available coal blocks in Australia from where it would be importing coking coal for the Indian steel industry.
In related news Coal India has made three coal blocks available for mining by international operators. The blocks at Kulda, Kaniha and Bhubneswari in Orissa belong to Mahanadi Coalfields.
Coal India is also planning to offer its existing mines to foreign mining giants on a lease basis.
