Poland eyes setting up 2.7 MTPA coking coal plant in India

Import of coking coal by the domestic steel industry crossed 45 million tonnes in 2014-15

Poland, world's second largest coking coal exporter, is planning to set up a 2.7 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) plant in India and has offered help with its expertise in production of the commodity.

Poland's Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Glinski, who is leading a 50-member high-level delegation to the 'Make in India' week, met Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and expressed interest in mutual collaboration in the area of mining and mineral exploration.

Glinski also offered knowledge exchange in the area of coking coal manufacturing and skill development, steel ministry said today.

"It was informed that Poland is a world leader in coking coal production and is second largest exporter of coking coal in the world. He shared plans of setting up a state-of-the-art coking coal plant of 2.7 million tonne annual capacity in India," it said.

Tomar welcomed Poland's proposal and assured India's full co-operation in setting up the plant.

Coking coal or metallurgical coal is mainly used in steel manufacturing.

Its import by domestic steel industry crossed 45 million tonnes (MT) in 2014-15 against about 39 MT in 2013-14.

It is likely to touch 180 MT in the wake of the country's ambitious target of producing 300 MT of crude steel per annum by 2025, as per industry body Assocham.

Besides, coking coal import has increased from 13 MT in 2003-04 to over 39 MT in 2013-14 and during the same period the dry fuel production dropped from about 18 MT to 14 MT and supply of washed coking coal to steel plants was only 6.6 MT in 2013-14.

The deputy prime minister also expressed "keen interest" in mutual collaboration in mining and mineral exploration. Polish companies, like KGHM, have expertise in exploration of copper and silver, which can be shared with Indian companies.

Tomar and Glinski held a meeting yesterday in Mumbai on the sidelines of the Make in India week.

The steel minister asked the Polish delegation to explore avenues for investment and collaboration in mining, exploration, Make in India, Clean India and other special drives being undertaken by the government of India.

He assured of all possible support from the government in realising the true potential of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Tomar appreciated Poland's proposal for an MoU for cooperation in the field of geology and mineral resources between the two countries and assured that once the draft MoU is received from Poland side, the Indian side will give it due consideration.

He also appreciated the fact that Poland has started a 'Go India' initiative to support the Make in India campaign.