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Virendra Pandit

Ahmedabad, June 14 Gujarat NRE Coke Ltd, the largest independent producer of low-ash metallurgical coke (LAMC) in the country, loaded on June 12 the first shipment of coking coal produced at its NRE Wongawilli Colliery in Australia, headed for India.

More than 20,000 tonnes of coal from the recently-acquired mine was loaded onto the bulk carrier Sea Urchin at Port Kembla’s coal loader.

The Wongawilli coal was placed in separate compartments along with 52,000 tonnes of coking coal from Gujarat NRE 1 Colliery at Russell Vale.

Thursday’s event was the first of what are expected to be monthly shipments from the two Gujarat NRE Coke’s mines in Wollongong.

“Once it arrives in India, it will be washed and prepared for the steel market at one of the company’s three metallurgical coke plants where waste heat recovery processes are being established to generate electricity, improve profitability and earn carbon credits.” Mr Arun Kumar Jagatramka, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, said here on Saturday. The coal production at Wongawilli is expected to ramp up to 2.5 million tonnes a year by 2010-11 when the workforce will be doubled. Gujarat NRE is currently operating two mines in the Wollongong area.

The company’s Illawarra operations now provide work for more than 350 employees and contractors at NRE Wongawilli and its sister mine, NRE No 1, at Russell Vale, north of Wollongong, which was purchased by Gujarat NRE group in December 2004. India represents more than 20 per cent of coal export from the Port Kembla.

“This shipment through Port Kembla Coal Terminal is significant as it will include the first shipment of coal from NRE Wongawilli.” added Mr Jagatramka.

Gujarat NRE Coke Ltd is the only Indian company with coking coal mines in Australia that have more than 500 million tonnes of metallurgical coal with excellent coking properties.

The company is set to emerge as one of the largest coking coal producers in Australia over the next few years.

The coal mines are owned through its subsidiaries — Gujarat NRE Minerals Ltd. Besides ownership of these coal mines, the company has made investments in resource prospecting companies that are scouting for coal, gold, iron-ore and various other base metals.

The company has 27.5 MW wind power energy and has also set up mini steel-mill in Gujarat to recycle steel scraps using green wind energy to manufacture TMT Bars.

More Stories on : Outlook | Coke & Metalurgical Coke | Exports & Imports

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