The Hindu Business Line : German cos favour Haldia for merchant coke plant

DR Carl-Otto Still and his associated companies in Germany have chosen Haldia as the most favoured location for their 2-million-tonne-per-annum capacity export oriented "merchant coke" plant in India. The project is to be set up in association with the West Bengal Government at an estimated cost of about Rs 1,800 crore.

Dr Still has already visited two places at Haldia, identified by the Haldia Development Authority (HAD) as suitable for the project. He is understood to have found one of the places suitable, subject to terms and conditions of acquiring the land. He also discussed with the Haldia dock authorities to ascertain the possibility of having a dedicated berth for handling imported coal for the project.

Dr Still told Business Line that the financial closure of the project was depending on the final techno-economic feasibility study being undertaken by Dastur & Company. Since the project would be based on imported coal with a provision to export 90 per cent of the total production, he was keen to associate West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) as equity partner in the project. WBIDC could contribute in equity in the form of land and power.

Dr Still said that he initiated the process of sourcing technology and funds from Germany and coal from Australia. The latest coke making technology would be brought to produce coal gas, coke and other bi-products like ammonia, benzene and tar. He was confident to set up the project in a record time, provided the statutory liabilities don't pose any problem. He expected to have the techno-economic feasibility study report within this month.

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