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40,000 Tonnes
Of Coking Coal From Australian Coalfield Number One Docks
At Bedi Port
The first consignment
of 40,000 tonnes of coking coal, used as raw material in coke
making, from the Gujarat NRE Coke’s first Australian
coal field docked on Bedi port on Saturday morning. The closed
Australian coal mine, which was acquired by Gujarat NRE Coke
a year ago and renamed Australian Coal Field Number One, went
onstream in September 2005.
“The biggest challenge
of successfully starting production from a closed coal mine
has been achieved and exports to India too have begun now.
In the following two months more exports to the tune of 150,000
tonnes coal is expected from this coal mine,” Arun K
Jagatramka, Vice Chairman, Gujarat NRE Coke told ET. The production
from the coal mine has gone up and ships carrying 60,000 tonnes
and 75,000 tonnes coal is expected to reach Bedi port in February
and March. By the calendar year end, the company hopes to
meet about 60-70 per cent of its total coking coal requirements
of about 600,000 per annum for its two units in Jamnagar and
Kutchh.
In addition, the company will sell the coking coal residue
as thermal coal. “After washing about 30% of coking
coal become unsuitable for coke making which we plan to sell
to power-generating units in the region,” Jagatramka
said.
The company’s bulk
raw material requirement so far is being met by BHP Billiton
with which it has a long-term contract. “BHP Billiton
supplies about 300,000 tonnes of coal which we will continue
to buy. In the event of surplus it will be sold in the open
market,” Jagatramka said. BHP Billiton will supply 100
per cent coal for Gujarat NRE’s new unit set up in Dharwad
in Karnataka. However, Australian coal is expected to be brought
in Dharwad unit as well and the company is currently contemplating
on setting up a washery here. “The washery should come
up by this calendar year end,” Jagatramka said. He however,
refused to give details on capacity and investment envisaged
in this project.
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