Mumbai: Coal India Ltd (CIL), the largest coal mining company in the country, will reopen 18 abandoned underground mines owned by three of its subsidiaries - Eastern Coalfields Ltd, Bharat Coking Coal Ltd and Central Coalfields Ltd - in partnership with private players, reports quoting company sources said.

CIL, reports said, has identified six abandoned underground mines of Eastern Coalfields, eight mines of Bharat Coking Coal, and four mines of Central Coalfields for revival.

These together are expected to have approximate reserves of 1,647 million tonnes of coal.

CIL has invited expressions of interest (EoI) from both local and global bidders to take part in the mining on a 50:50 production sharing basis.

While parties may express interest in one or more mines, only one company would be finally selected after a bidding process, the reports said, adding, in case a single party gets more than one mine, the mines will be managed by a single joint venture between CIL and the private player.

The joint venture will have equal representation from CIL and the private party and the chairman of the board will hold office for one year on rotational basis.

The guidelines also require the partners to have minimum 10 years of experience in economically operating underground coal mines in difficult working conditions, with at least one being an abandoned mine.

They must also have experience of dealing with underground coal fires, and waterlogged conditions.

 ArcelorMittal and the Ispat group had expressed interest in tying up with CIL through the nomination route.

CIL, along with its seven subsidiaries, has identified 120 projects from which it plans to excavate 292 million tonnes of coal during the ongoing 11th Plan.

During 2006-07, coal production from underground mines accounted for only about 11 per cent of total production. Out of the 361 million tonnes produced, open cast mines contributed 339 million tonnes, and 43.32 million tonnes were from underground mining.