India’s Hindustan Zinc seeks imported thermal coal

Indian private-sector metals and mining company Hindustan Zinc is seeking up to 300,000t of thermal coal imports through a tender that closes on 8 July.

The company wants imported coal of any origin in cargo sizes of 55,000t, 75,000t, 100,000t, 120,000t or 150,000t of unspecified calorific value (CV) to be delivered by August or the first half of September. It is seeking offers for coal preferably priced on a dap basis, but is open to receiving offers on fob, cfr or cif basis to Kandla, Dahej or Mundra ports on India's west coast. It would take at least two cargoes of imported coal.

Hindustan Zinc wants coal with a sulphur content of less than 3pc on an air-dried basis. Total moisture levels should be 8-21pc. Typical ash content for high-ash coal should be up to 24pc with rejection level at 27pc, while the typical ash content for low-ash coal is at 12pc, with rejection limit at 13pc. Volatile matter should range 20-42pc.

Prospective bidders should submit their applications by 8 July, with validity until 11 July. Interested bidders have to register on the auction portal — https://hzl.supplier.ariba.com — to participate in the tender.

Stock and sale

Hindustan Zinc is also seeking up to 20,000t of imported thermal coal with a typical CV of more than NAR 5,800 kcal/kg coal, with a minimum of NAR 5,500 kcal/kg, from stock and sale traders through the same tender.

The company would prefer the stock-and-sale coal to be of South African origin that can be supplied at the earliest. The company would try to lift the cargo from a port on west coast of India within 45 days of award of the tender.

The stock-and-sale coal should have high fixed carbon and low volatile matter content. The typical fixed carbon level should be at 50pc with rejection limit at 45pc, while volatile matter should be at 23pc with rejection limit set at 26pc. Typical ash level should be at 18pc, with the rejection limit at 22pc. Total moisture should be between 5-12pc.

Hindustan Zinc is seeking the imported and stock-and-sale coal cargoes for its captive power plants, which have a combined capacity of 505.5MW.

By Nadhir Mokhtar