Australian firms evince interest to develop CIL opencast mines

For underground mines, the state-run company's subsidiaries through global bids have already selected a few British and Chinese companies for the work

Two Australian companies have evinced interest in developing Coal India's opencast mines while four British and Chinese companies have been selected for developing the PSU's four underground mines, the government today said.

"Two Australian companies -- Leighton Welspun Contractors Pvt Ltd, part of Leighton Group; and Theiss India Pvt Ltd, subsidiary of Theiss, Australia participated in discussions and provided comments on draft request of qualification (RFQ) document for selection of Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) for opencast mines of CIL," said Minister of State for Coal Pratik Prakashbapu Patil in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

For underground (UG) mines, the state-run company's subsidiaries through global bids have already selected a few British and Chinese companies for the work, said Patil.

"BBB, British company, have joined with AMR, Hyderabad and will be working in Kapuria UG project, Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) for an annual output of 2 Mty," Patil said.

He said another British firm Bucyrus has inked a pact with INDU, Hyderabad and Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL) to work in Moonidih UG project of BCCL to produce annual output of 2.5 MT.

Besides BHEC, China has joined with MINOP Innovative company, Kolkata for Muraidih UG Project of BCCL for annual output of 2 MT while another Chinese company CODCO will work at Jhanjra phase II Longwall Mine to annually produce 1.7 MT of coal, he added.

World's largest coal miner, Coal India last week said it hoped to award contract for 10-15 mines in the fiscal 2013-14 in the public private partnership pact.

CIL in association with the Coal Ministry has modified the Mine Developers and Operators (MDOs) model to award contracts to private contractors to boost coal production.

It plans to award up to 15 MDO contracts by 2013-14.