31.   Negotiations have intensified this month following settlement in December of coking coal prices between Japanese steel mills and Australian exporters.

32.   The government announced Tuesday it would establish a new coal price statistics to provide a transparent base for the annual round of haggling over coal prices with the Japanese.

33.   The miners also want more control over their industry, such as setting coal prices and their own wage scale.

34.   The miners also want more control over their industry, such as setting coal prices, deciding to whom to sell and setting their own wage scale.

35.   The run-up in coal prices last winter occurred as demand outstripped supply.

36.   Higher crude oil prices would be offset by lower coal prices, it added.

37.   Tightening market conditions had led to substantial increases in coal prices with import demand, particularly in the Asian region, expected to increase substantially over the medium term.

38.   Minister for Coal Kanti Singh said the government was also planning to deregulate subsidised coal prices in a bid to meet increased demand.