Marubeni Corp and its partners have decided to invest USD 200 million to double annual output at Australia's Lake Vermont coal mine to 8 million tonnes from 2014.

Marubeni said that it has a 33.3% stake in the Lake Vermont venture, the owner and operator of the open-pit coal mine in Queensland whose deposits are estimated at 184 million tonnes. The mine started output in January, 2009. Its coking coal has markets in Japan, Brazil, China and India.

Other partners in the joint venture include Anglo American, Zashvin, Japan's Sojitz Corp and American Metals & Coal International.

(Sourced from Reuters)