Melbourne, Sep 13 (PTI) The Victorian government in Australia is looking at exporting millions of tonnes of high polluting brown coal to developing nations, including India, media reports said.
According to 'The Sunday Age' report, hundreds of people protested today in Latrobe Valley against Hazelwood, the state's dirtiest brown coal power station, and a new environmental battle is likely against the Brumby Government over use of the state's massive coal reserves.
Government sources have told the daily that Energy Minister Peter Batchelor took a plan of exporting 12 million tonnes of brown coal annually to India to a recent Cabinet meeting.
While no decision has been made as yet, spokeswoman for Batchelor Emma Tyner said any allocation of coal would require "careful consideration of emerging needs and a rigorous environmental approval process."
The Energy Minister's support of brown coal exports has angered green groups.
Source : PTI