Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 18 October 2011: Gujarat NRE welcomes the NSW Planning Assessment Commission’s (NSW PAC) approval for its $122 million upgrade of existing infrastructure at NRE No.1 mine at Russell Vale.

Executive Chairman Mr. Arun Kumar Jagatramka said this is great news for the company, its workers and the Illawarra community.

Mr. Jagatramka said the approval would give added security to the current 350 personnel working at NRE No. 1 mine and also provide short term employment for additional workers during the construction of the surface facility upgrades.

The NSW PAC has given written approval to the project, which includes continuing the extraction of up to 1 million tonnes of coking coal per annum from the Bulli and Wongawilli seams for the next three years; the continuation of the coal being transported by truck to the Port Kembla Coal Terminal; and upgrades to the existing surface facilities and infrastructure.

The NSW PAC made its determination after the Department of Planning and Infrastructure provided comprehensive and lengthy briefings covering issues such as subsidence, impacts on water resources, noise, air quality, traffic and incident reporting. The NSW PAC also carefully considered the Department of Planning’s Assessment Report, including agency and public submissions.

Gujarat NRE is aiming to put on public exhibition further details of its $250 million expansion plans for the Russell Vale mine by the end of this year.

For more information please contact:

Mr Sutirtha Roy at +(91) 98790 19880 or mail at [email protected]