Coal news and updates

Punjab brick kiln makers buy US steam coal

October 24: A number of brick kiln makers in Punjab have recently procured US steam coal, taking forward the trend started in 2012, industry sources said.

"The brick kiln makers in Punjab started using US steam coal last year and had found it quite economical compared with high-sulphur domestic coal that comes from Meghalaya," the sources added.

Incidentally, the impact of the US coal was such that in the third quarter of 2012-13 (October-December), there was a sharp decline in e-auction prices of coal offered by Coal India Ltd (CIL) from its subsidiary in Meghalaya.

This year, already around 40,000 tons of US steam coal has been purchased by brick kiln makers that was delivered from a western coast port and another about 210,000 tons of material is likely to be consumed by November.

"The brick-making season has just started in north India and if the use of US coal is found to be economical, more and more producers may opt for such coal," industry experts feel.