Electrotherm gets coal block in Chhattisgarh

Ahmedabad: The city-based Electrotherm India, manufacturer of specialized steel, has been allotted a coal block in Chhattisgarh for exploration and captive mining, company officials said.

The screening committee of the coal ministry, which decided on allocation of coal blocks to steel and cement companies July 4, has allotted the Bhaskarapara block in Jhilimili coalfield Chhattisgarh to Electrotherm and Grasim Industries, the officials told IANS.

The block, which is estimated to have non-coking coal reserves of 46.9 million tonnes, has been equally divided between the two companies, they said. The allotment of coal block will ensure energy security for Eletrotherm's iron production facility and its captive power plant.

The lion's share of allotment went to cement companies such as Gujarat Ambuja, Uttam Galva, Kesoram Industries, Binani Cement, Lafarge, Birla Corp, ACC, Dalmia Cement and JK cement.