Essar Group, the multinational conglomerate and a leading global player in the steel, energy, power and communications, is embroiled in a bidding war with the $8-billion Jindal group to acquire Australian coke producer and explorer Rocklands Richfield Ltd.

Last month Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, which already has a 10.5-per cent stake in the Perth-based Rocklands, had made an offer of A$0.42 per share to acquire the remainder of the stake, valuing the company at $121.1 million.

Rocklands Richfield had tentatively agreed to the Jindal deal and company chairman Benny Wu, who is also the majority shareholder, agreed to sell his 9.9 per cent as well as recommend the takeover deal to the board.

But on Sunday, Essar launched a counterbid for Rocklands with an offer of A$0.50 per share, valuing the company at $128.5 million. Its offer is conditional on gaining a majority 60-per cent stake of Rocklands.

Rocklands Richfield said yesterday that it would call a board meeting to consider the merits of the competing bids and added that neither of the bids are preliminary proposals, which can be put forward to shareholders.

Currently, Australian coking coal is used in more than 50 per cent of the steel produced in India.

The steel demand in India will soon cross 10 per cent as soon as the effects of global economic slowdown are over. Steel consumption in the country grew 8.9 per cent in July and production grew 5.9 per cent.

During the April-July 2009 quarter, production grew 3.8 per cent, while consumption grew 5.8 per cent. Currently, India consumes about 59 million tones of coal annually faces a coal shortage of 65 million tones per year, which will rise to 124 million tonnes annually by 2012.

Minister of state for coal, Prakash Jaiswal had visited Australia last month to facilitate the acquisition of coal mines by Indian companies  to secure supplies since more than half the electricity generated in India is from coal-fired plants.

Tata Steel has a stake in Carborough Downs Coal Mine near Moranbah in Central Queensland in Australia along with joint venture partner's Brazilian mining giant, Vale and others.

Tata Steel also has a JV with Australian Riversdale Mining to produce premium coal at the Benga coal project in Mozambique.