Bses In Plans To Set Up Chain Of Coal Washeries

Mumbai-based power major BSES is planning to set up a chain of coal washeries in India to cater to the needs of other state electricity boards (SEBs).

The chain will be in place over the next three to four years and the total washing capacity will be 10 million tonne. Currently, the company is setting up a 2.5 million tonne coal washery at Korba in Bilaspur district of Madhya Pradesh. The company envisages an equity investment of Rs 25 to 30 crore in the coal washeries.

BSES is planning to implement the project through its subsidiary ST-BSES Coal Washeries (SBCWL) in which it has a majority stake. The company has already initiated talks with a number of SEBs including some situated in East India. "The company is thinking of setting up a few more washeries in Bilaspur area to cater to the needs of SEBs with whom discussions are in progress. A few SEBs of South India have also evinced interest in the company setting up washeries for them," said R V Shahi chairman and managing director BSES. He declined to spell out the names of the SEBs with whom talks are on.

The Korba washery of BSES will be commissioned in September, 1998. The washery will reduce the ash content in coal from about 40 per cent to 30 per cent. This washery is for captive use for its power plant at Dahanu in Maharashtra. A lower ash content in coal will automatically result in an increase in the plant load factor of power plants apart from minimising environment problems. Besides it will also result in lower transportation costs as less coal will have to be transported. After the commissioning of the Korba washery BSES's transportation costs will come down by Rs 100 per tonne. The paid up capital of SBCWL was hiked to Rs 8.4 crore in 1997-98 from a mere Rs 7000 in 1996-97 in order to fund the Korba washery.

BSES has also decided to set up an office in Dubai. This office will implement the recent Rs 160 crore order secured from Dubai Electricity & Water Authority. The contract is for supply, installation and commissioning of 132kv\11kv substations and other associated works. The company secured the order in the face of a global tender and against stiff international competition from Siemens, Enel of Italy and South Korean major Hyundai.