Gujarat NRE places $90-million equipment order to upgrade Australian mines

Kolkata, 26th April 2010: Gujarat NRE Coking Coal Limited the Australian subsidiary of India's largest independent producer of met coke Gujarat NRE Coke Ltd, today said that it has entered into a contract with Joy Manufacturing Company Pty Limited to supply longwall systems for the upgradation, including at its NRE Wongawilli mines.

It said that  that the order was for a longwwall system with an initial face width of 145 metres in 2011 with option for face extension up to 390-metre in the next five years. The contract also includes purchase of a new 183-metre face longwall coal clearance system to upgrade the Wongawilli mine's longwall system in 2013.

The contract is estimated for a total value of $90 million approximately.

Under the contract Joy  will supply and upgrade the longwall systems and also be responsible as a turnkey responsibility for NRE No1 mine and will be managing and coordinating for NRE Wongawilli upgrade.

The NRE No 1 mine longwall is scheduled for delivery and commissioning in the Wongawilli seam for late 2011, which will facilitate production of over three million tonnes per annum from NRE No.1 mine.

The option to upgrade the face width from 145 metres to 390 metres will facilitate significant operational efficiencies and create opportunities for further production increases, it said.