Sical to set up JV for coal washery in Talcher

According to an announcement with the BSE, the company said the investment shall not exceed Rs 450 cr

Chennai-based Sical Logistics Ltd, in which Tanglin Retail Reality Developments has a share of 53.12 per cent, is planning to set up a joint venture to set up a coal washery in Talcher, Orissa, to execute an integrated contract for the movement of coal. The company is also expecting permission from relevant authorities to use its iron ore terminal in Ennore to handle alternate cargoes since the terminal could not be commercialised for iron ore transportation.

The company has sought shareholders’ approval for giving corporate guarantees or providing securities or loans or advances, and for making investments not exceeding Rs 450 crore in its subsidiary or joint venture companies.

According to an announcement with the BSE, the investment shall not exceed Rs 450 crore, and would be used in Sical Iron Ore Terminals Ltd, which has an iron ore terminal in Ennore Port. The investment would also be for setting up of a coal washery at Talcher through a joint venture.

The iron ore terminal project at Ennore was completed with an investment of around Rs 400 crore, but could not commence commercial operations as there was a ban on the mining and transport of ore out of Karnataka region. To make the terminal operational, the management is in the process of obtaining permission from the appropriate authorities. Once the approval is in place, appropriate investments are required to be made for conversion of the existing facility. “Hence an amount of Rs 100 crore would be required, apart from loans or advances of Rs 100 crore and guarantees towards the same to the extend of Rs 100 crore to cater to the requirements of the company (Sical Iron Ore Terminals Ltd),” said the announcement.

Similarly, in order to set up a coal washery, it is in the process of identifying a JV and this would require an investment not exceeding Rs 50 crore and further providing loans or advances of Rs 50 crore and guarantees to the tune of Rs 50 crore, for the venture, it added.