Gujarat NRE Coking Coal Limited is an Australian public company that owns and operates two hard coking coal mines in the southern coal fields of New South Wales Australia.  The mines, NRE No. 1 Colliery and NRE Wongawilli Colliery, contain estimated coal reserves of 125 million tons (MT) and resources of 651 million tons and have a potential mine life of over 30 years.   Most of its coal production is sold to its parent company Gujarat NRE Coke Limited, at market price on arms’ length terms.  Gujarat NRE Coke Limited, an Indian public listed company, is the largest independent manufacturer of metallurgical coke in India and has a long track record as a supplier of coke in India as well as to countries around the world such as Brazil, South Africa, Malaysia, Japan and other emerging growth markets.

The company’s first mine, NRE No. 1 Colliery, contains JORC reserves of 92 MT and resources of 315 MT, has a potential mine life of over 30 years and a fiscal year 2016 production target of approximately 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).  The second mine, NRE Wongawilli Colliery, contains JORC reserves of 33 MT and resources of 337 MT, also has a potential mine life of over 30 years and a fiscal year 2016 production target of approximately 2 MTPA. The area of New South Wales in which GNCCL operates is a long-established coal producing region with over 160 years of production history.

Gujarat NRE has invested approximately US$ 750 million over the past 8 years to expand the production capability of its mines and to improve infrastructure. The company has recently commenced operations utilizing new longwall mining equipment at the NRE No. 1 Colliery.  The utilization of new longwall equipment at NRE No. 1 Colliery and the existing longwall equipment at NRE Wongawilli Colliery, which commenced operations in 2008, along with other contemplated capital improvements and upgrades at the mines, will boost total production capacity from approximately 1.1 MTPA in fiscal year 2012 to approximately 5 MTPA in fiscal year 2016.  The company also enjoys the advantage of having close proximity to a low demurrage port facility, Port Kembla Coal Terminal.  The access to this terminal provides with favorable transportation logistics and materially reduces the transportation costs. 

 

Board

Mr. Arun Kumar Jagatramka, Executive Chairman

Dr. Andrew Edwin Firek, Director

Mr. Maurice Anghie, Director

Mrs. Mona Jagatramka, Director
 
Profiles of Directors and the Company Secretary
 

Mr. Arun Kumar Jagatramka, B.Com (Hons), FCA, AIMM
Executive Chairman and Member of Management Committee

Mr Arun Kumar Jagatramka is the Chairman and Managing Director of Gujarat NRE Coke Limited. He is a Chartered Accountant with an all India 1st rank and gold medal. Under his able guidance, Gujarat NRE Coke, established in 1994, has become the largest independent producer of Met Coke in India – the only Indian entity to own and operate coking coal mines in Australia, thereby moving backward into coal mining and forward into steel making, coupled with wind energy and waste heat power generation in India.

A visionary of rare distinction, he has spearheaded the move by establishing Gujarat NRE Coking Coal Ltd in 2004, a company involved in mining operations in Australia. Gujarat NRE Coking Coal Ltd. owns and operates NRE No. 1 colliery and NRE Wongawilli Colliery in Wollongong currently. In a space of just a few years, the Company under his chairmanship has acquired world class hard coking coal resources in excess of 650 million tonnes.

Mr. Arun Kumar Jagatramka is a member of a number of boards, like Port Kembla Coal Terminal, Wollongong NRE Hawks and Executive Committee Member of NSW Minerals Council. He has recently been appointed by the NSW government to the five member Illawarra Local Venues Council which would oversee the state’s publicly owned sporting and entertainment venues.

Mr. Jagatramka had earlier served as the Honorary NSW “Sydney Ambassador” to India, appointed by the Govt. of New South Wales, Australia. He is also an active member of Confederation of Indian Industry. Mr Arun Kumar Jagatramka has been conferred the prestigious “Person of the Year 2009” title by Illawarra Mercury, a leading Australian publication.

Mr Jagatramka added another feather to his cap as an ambassador of Australia India relationship, when the Australia India Business Council (AIBC) acknowledged him at Parliament House in Sydney for his contribution in promoting relations between the two countries. Mr. Arun Kumar Jagatramka was appointed by the Board of Directors as the Executive Chairman of the Company. The appointment of Mr. Jagatramka in the executive capacity has permitted him to actively engage in the day to day management and supervision of the affairs of the Company.
 

Dr. Andrew Edwin Firek, M.Sc, Ph D, FAusIMM, FAIE
Non-Executive Director and Member of Audit Committee

Dr Firek has been involved in mining and mineral processing for over 26 years. His experience includes managing of process development, construction, commissioning and operations of coal, base and precious metals plants in Europe, Africa and Australia. He worked in Europe and Africa as a United Nations expert in fossil fuels exploration, mineral processing and energy generation. Dr Firek is also familiar with downstream processing of oil and gas that helps in evaluating feasibility of fuel resources. Dr. Firek was a Group Leader at the CSIRO, Division of Fossil Fuels in Sydney and was engaged in developing technologies to produce liquid fuels from coal. He was Project Director at Memtec Ltd, following which he joined Pancontinental Mining Ltd where he was Research and Development Manager involved in substantial mineral resources projects including base and precious metals, uranium and the development and commissioning of a $220 million magnesia production facility near Rockhampton in Queensland. He worked on site during construction and commissioning for 12 months. Dr Firek was a director of mineral residue processing group Hydromet Technologies Ltd. He was also a founding Executive Director of the listed company; Allegiance Mining NL that later discovered Tasmania’s largest nickel sulphide deposit. Dr. Firek is also the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Coalworks Limited.
 

Mr. Maurice Anghie, B. Bus, FCA, FCPA, MAICD
Non-Executive Director and Chairman of Audit Committee

Mr Anghie is an experienced and financially qualified professional possessing a range of commercial and financial skills. Having worked extensively in the listed corporate environment, he possesses legal, regulatory and governance expertise. He has been an Audit and Corporate Finance Partner in many chartered accounting firms for over many years. He is currently an Independent Corporate Consultant and a non-executive director of Aditya Birla Minerals Limited.
 

Mrs. Mona Jagatramka
Non-Executive Director

Mrs. Mona Jagatramka is a Director of Gujarat NRE Coke Ltd. She has more than 14 years of experience in management and administration affairs. She is a Graduate in Home Science. She is actively associated in the Management of the businesses and looks after the Human Resources and support managerial services of Gujarat NRE Group.
 

Mr. Sanjay Sharma, B.Com (Hons), MBA, AIMM
Chief Commercial Officer and Company Secretary

Mr. Sharma is a Management Graduate from the University of Canberra with over 14 years of experience in business management. He has held various senior positions in two other companies before joining Gujarat NRE Coking Coal Limited as a Company Secretary in 2004. He is also Company Secretary in other group of companies in Australia including Gujarat NRE Limited and Gujarat NRE W Pty Ltd. He is currently looking after Secretarial and Legal compliance of the group of Gujarat NRE companies incorporated in Australia and in particular Gujarat NRE Coking Coal Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) as well as acting as its Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Sharma has been associated with the Gujarat NRE Coking Coal Limited since its inception and was fully involved in the Company’s successful initial public offering (IPO) and listing on the ASX. He is also actively involved in investors and other stakeholders’ relation.
 
 

Management Committee Members and Executive Officers

Name Position(s) held

Arun K. Jagatramka, Executive Chairman

Murari Sananguly, Member of Management Committee

P R Kannan, Member of Management Committee

Sanjay Loyalka, Member of Management Committee

Dr. Andrew Firek, Independent Director
 

Mr. Arun Kumar Jagatramka

Mr. Arun Kumar Jagatramka is the Executive Chairman of the Company and the Chairman and Managing Director of our parent, Gujarat NRE Coke Limited. Mr. Arun Kumar Jagatramka established Gujarat NRE Coke in 1994, which has since then become the largest independent producer of Met Coke in India. He is a Chartered Accountant with an all India 1st rank and gold medal. Mr. Arun Kumar Jagatramka helped establish the Company in 2004. Mr. Arun Kumar Jagatramka is a member of a number of boards, including Port Kembla Coal Terminal and Wollongong NRE Hawks, and he is Executive Committee Member of NSW Minerals Council. He was recently appointed by the NSW government to the five member Illawarra Local Venues Council to oversee the NSW’s publicly owned sporting and entertainment venues. Mr. Jagatramka previously served as the Honorary NSW “Sydney Ambassador” to India, appointed by the Government of NSW, and is an active member of the Confederation of Indian Industry.
 

Mr. Murari Sananguly

Mr. Murari is a Member of our Management Committee, and is a B.E (Mechanical) passed in 1st class in 1965. He has vast experience of working in Durgapur Steel Plant (from 1965 to 1973), ACC Vicekers Babcock Ltd, Durgapur (from 1973 to 1978) and Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (from 1978). Mr Murari was promoted from Asst. General Manager (Production) to Director (Production & Projects) in 1995 and further to Director–in-charge in 1997. Further, in 1997 he took over as Chairman and Managing Director of Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited. He has also undergone training in Management, Orientation, Planning, Maintenance Management, Mineral resources exploration, Mgmt. Programmes in India, USA, Canada and Australia.
 

Mr. P R Kannan

Mr. P R Kannan is a Member of our Management Committee. Mr. Kannan has been with the Company since 2004, and is currently designated as the Group Chief Financial Officer, having overseen the Corporate Affairs, Finance and the group's forays into Australia. He is also actively involved in the operational planning and management of NRE No. 1 & NRE Wongawilli Colliery. P.R. Kannan, Post Graduate in Science, spent the first two decades of his career in the banking industry where he gathered expertise and specialized in Corporate Finance and Foreign Exchange. He then moved on to the infrastructure segment, overseeing project Financing and Execution as an independent Director.
 

Mr. Sanjay Loyalka

Mr Sanjay Loyalka is a Member of our Management Committee, and has experience in various functional roles including CEO, General Management and Corporate finance experience in mining and metals, manufacturing and logistics based industries in a multinational environment. He is the founding CEO and was a Managing Director of the Aditya Birla Group’s operations within Australia. Mr Loyalka has been a member of the Executive Council of Chamber of Minerals & Energy (Western Australia) in 2005 and 2006 & is the Chairman of the ASX listed Shree Minerals Limited.
 

Dr. Andrew Firek

Dr. Firek is an Independent Director of the Company, and has been involved in mining and mineral processing for over 26 years. Dr. Firek was a Group Leader at the CSIRO, Division of Fossil Fuels in Sydney and was engaged in developing technologies to produce liquid fuels from coal. He was Project Director at Memtec Ltd, following which he joined Pancontinental Mining Ltd where he was Research and Development Manager involved in substantial mineral resources projects. Dr. Firek was a director of mineral residue processing group Hydromet Technologies Ltd. His experience includes managing of process development, construction, commissioning and operations of coal, base and precious metals plants in Europe, Africa and Australia. Dr. Firek is also familiar with downstream processing of oil and gas that helps in evaluating feasibility of fuel resources. He was also a founding Executive Director of the listed company Allegiance Mining NL that later discovered Tasmania’s largest nickel sulphide deposit. Dr. Firek is also the Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Coalworks Limited.
 
Senior Executives

Dr. Chris Harvey, Head of Corporate Relations

Dr. Harvey joined the Company in early 2006 as Mining Superintendent. He currently acts as the Head of Corporate Relations where his understanding of the industry and knowledge of our mining operations is invaluable. Dr. Harvey has a PhD in Mining Engineering from Wollongong University, along with a range of additional qualifications in Management & Environmental Studies. In 1983 after working as a Mining Engineer in the Illawarra coal mining industry he joined the New South Wales Department of Mineral Resources as a Mining Engineer and Senior Environmental Officer and was appointed as an Inspector under the Mining Act 1992. His qualifications, skills and experience are an asset to the Company in obtaining necessary consents and approvals. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy; a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, a Member of the Australian Institute of Management, a Member of the Society of Mining Metallurgy & Exploration (America) and a member of the Mine Managers Association.
 
 

Mr. Paul Coxhead, Statutory Manager, NRE Wongawilli

Mr. Coxhead is currently the statutory manager at NRE Wongawilli Colliery has been with the Company since its acquisition of the No. 1 Colliery in December 2004. Mr. Coxhead has over 35 years of experience in coal mining, in Queensland, New South Wales and New Zealand - in roles of Undermanager, Project Manager, Mine Manager, Ventilation Officer, Training Officer, OHS Manager. He is a holder of Queensland and New Zealand First Class Mine Manager's certificate has over 10 years of experience as Mine Manager at South Coast Mines (Bellambi West, Metropolitan, NRE No. 1, Avondale, NRE Wongawilli Collieries).
 

Mr. Rhys Brett, Operations Manager, NRE No. 1

Mr. Brett has over 8 years of underground coal mining experience with Anglo American Coal, Centennial Coal and Xstrata. Mr. Brett holds NSW 1st Class Certificate of Competency for Underground Coal Mines and a Diploma on Ventilation Engineering.
 
Mr. Phil Wakeford, Statutory Manager, NRE No.1

Mr. Wakeford has over 35 years of experience in underground coal mining mostly in the Southern District of New South Wales as well as in the New South Wales Western District and Central Queensland Collieries. He has held various engineering positions as well as senior mine management positions with Oakdale Collieries Limited, BHP BIC. Mr. Wakeford holds NSW 1st Class Certificate of Competency for Underground Coal Mines and has for over 29 years served as a volunteer corpsman at Southern Mines Rescue Station.
 

Corporate Governance

The Directors are responsible for the overall corporate governance of the Company, and are committed to the principles underpinning best practice in corporate governance, applied in a manner that meets ASX standards and best addresses the Directors’ accountability to Shareholders.

The Directors monitor the business affairs of the Company on behalf of Shareholders and have formally adopted a corporate governance policy which is designed to encourage Directors to focus their attention on accountability, risk management and ethical conduct.

The following policies and procedures have been adopted by the Company and are available for viewing on the Company’s website at (*).

  • Board Charter
  • Audit Committee Charter
  • Executive Committee Charter
  • Directors and Executive Officers’ Code of Conduct
  • Performance Evaluation Process
  • Code of Business Conduct
  • Dealings in Company Securities
  • Communications Strategy
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Risk Management and Internal Control Police

Whilst the Company will endeavour to comply with all of the guidelines under the ASX Corporate Governance Council’s “Principles of Good Corporate Governance and Best Practice Recommendations”, the Board considers that the Company is not currently of a size, nor are its affairs of such complexity, to justify the additional expense of compliance with all recommendations. The Board will consider on an ongoing basis its corporate governance procedures and whether they are sufficient given the Company’s nature of operations and size.

© 2012 GNCCL. All Rights Reserved. A GNCL Creation.