Gujarat NRE Coke to import coal from its Australian mines from November
(The Economic Times, Ahmedabad, September 27, 2005)

Gujarat NRE Coke, one of the largest non-captive manufacturers of low-ash metallurgical coke in  the country, will begin importing coal from its Australian mines in November. Gujarat NRE Australian, a subsidiary of Gujarat NRE Coke, had purchased the Bellambi West Colliery in New South Wales region of Australia last December and had formally commenced mining last Friday, Gujarat NRE Coke chairman Arun Kumar Jagatramka told reporters here today.

The colliery will start with one million metric tonnes per annum and scale up to two million tonnes of coal a year, Jagatramka said, adding that the first shipment from the mine will reach India in November.

The company has already invested A$25 million in the mine and has plans to invest another A$40-45 million for the next three years. "The mine will ensure Gujarat NRE Coke is self-sufficient in raw materials supply on a long-term basis," Jagatramka said. " The company also recently acquired a second colliery at Avondale, called NRE Avondale," he said, adding that 1.5 million tonnes of coal will be produced additionally from the colliery every year. "We will be able to import coal to India from the second colliery in three or four years," he added. The company has invested A$8.5 million in Resources Pacific, a semi-coke coking coal company at New Castle, and another A$2 million in Zinico Resources NL, an Australian company.