Tata
Power to pay $1.1billion for stake in coal companies
Business
Standard March 31, 2007
Tata
Power will acquire 30-per cent stake in two major Indonesian
thermal coal producers owned by PT Bumi Resources Tbk
(Bumi) for Rs4,840 crore ($1.1 billion) giving it access
to one of the largest thermal coal mines in the world.
An official statement issued
today said the company has signed definitive agreements
to purchase 30-per cent equity in PT Kaltim Prima Coal
(KPC) and PT Arutmin Indonesia (Arutmin) and a related
trading company owned by PT Bumi Resources Tbk (Bumi).
"The move not only secures
our fuel requirements in light of aggressive growth
plans charted out by the company but also opens up opportunities
for Tata Power to own and operate a range of world-class,
competitive and profitable electricity and energy businesses
in India and overseas," Prasad Menon, managing
director, Tata Power, said.
The acquisition would be made
through an offshore special purpose vehicle (SPV) to
be formed, the statement added.
As part of the purchase,
Tata Power has signed an off-take agreement with KPC,
which entitles it to purchase about 10 million tonne
of coal per annum. The purchase supports Tata Power's
upcoming projects on India's west coast enabling it
to generate 7,000 mw over the next five years.
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