Asciano To Haul BHP Mitsui's Coal In Australia's Bowen Basin
June 14 2011 - 11:11PM
Dow Jones News
Infrastructure group Asciano Ltd. (AIO.AU) has won a contract to
carry 4.2 million tons of coal from BHP Mitsui Coal's mines in
Queensland state.
Asciano, whose Pacific National subsidiary accounts for 80% of
coal haulage in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales state, has
just 11% of the market in Queensland's Bowen Basin. The Bowen
produces more than half of the world's coking coal used in
steelmaking.
The contract with BHP Mitsui, a 50-50 joint venture of BHP
Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and Mitsui & Co. Ltd. (8031.TO) which
operates the South Walker Creek and Poitrel mines, will see Asciano
carrying the coal over the so-called northern missing link
line.
Once it is completed early next year, the line will connect the
Bowen Basin to the northern port of Abbot Point, where BHP is
building a new coal export terminal. BHP's existing terminal at Hay
Point is already close to capacity.
"Winning this contract with such a major coal producer is a coup
for our growth aspirations into the key expansion port of Abbot
Point," Asciano Chief Executive John Mullen said in a
statement.
The contract would run from 2013 and be on a take-or-pay basis,
meaning that BHP Mitsui would have to pay for hauling an agreed
volume of coal whether it was able to provide the product or not.
Mines in the Bowen Basin have been hard hit by seasonal rainfalls
over the past year, and rail operators are reluctant to agree
contracts that would see them lose revenues in the event of
production shortfalls.
Pacific National has scored contracts with Anglo American PLC
(AAL.LN) and other miners that would see the company carry 49
million tons a year from 2012.
-By David Fickling, Dow Jones Newswires; +61 2 8272 4689;
david.fickling@dowjones.com
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