100% FDI to make coal mining easier in India

Access to coal for steel and cement companies will now be minus procedural delays and meaningless restrictions. These sectors earlier enjoyed 74% FDI, of which only 50% was under the automatic route. Now, not only has the FDI cap been raised to 100%, it has been brought under the automatic route. Thus, there is no need for clearance by the FIPB. These companies will now be free to rope in mining partners who would chip in the entire investment needed for exploration and mining activities.

Basically, the policy move would mean steel and cement companies would have easier access to modern technology and management techniques. Global mining companies like BHP Billiton, CVRD, Rio Tinto and others would be free to tie up with companies in all these sectors.

The power sector was already allowed 100% FDI for captive mining. Captive mining means the coal mined is used for own consumption by some sectors which are the approved end users.

Turbulent times for SAIL

SAIL may see a steep decline in its net profits of the third quarter with the prices of the commodity falling by about 30% since April last. Analysts estimate its profits to slump to as low as Rs 6 billion in third quarter ending December, 2005 almost half of what it recorded in second quarter at Rs 11.27 billion.

SAIL Chairman Mr VS Jain said "prices have been under pressure but now there is stability." Most of SAIL's plants have been operating at over capacity of about 108% and this shows a healthy picture of the corporation, he said, declining to comment on analysts forecast.

Coal union accuses CCL of abandoning mines

The Coalfield Mazdoor Union, affiliated to the Hind Mazdoor Sabha, has accused the management of Central Coalfield Limited of not being serious in filling up abandoned mines and thereby not doing enough to avert mishaps. "The management is not taking steps with regard to abandoned mines. Filling up of such mines would stop illegal mining and save innocent laborers," central secretary of the union Mr Uday Kumar Singh said.

Mr Singh said on January 29 he would represent the union at the 'court of inquiry' instituted to probe the June 15 Bansgara mine mishap that had claimed 17 lives.

The central secretary of the union Mr Nageshwar accusing the CCL management of corruption said an agitation would start on February 15 at Bhurkunda in Jharkhand against alleged corruption, ignoring the interests of about 26,000 employees of the coal sector. Claiming that the management was inclined to wind up the Rajarappa project, Mr Nageshwar warned against any such move and said it would jeopardize the livelihood of employees.

SICAL Q3 net profit up 20%

South India Corporation (Agencies) Ltd SICAL, a leading provider of integrated logistics services for bulk commodities announced that un audited net profit for the third quarter was Rs 99.4 million up by 20% from Rs 82.7 million in the same period a year ago. Q3 sales were Rs 2.19 billion against Rs 2.46 billion a year ago.

The rise in profit was contributed to volume growth in existing portfolios, addition of new businesses, improved operational efficiencies and the financial restructuring initiatives taken up during the period to create a solid foundation for substantial growth in the short and long term.

Repeat business from SICALs existing customers accounted for 90% of SICALs Q3 net sales; new customers accounted for the remaining 10%. Net profit for the nine months to 31 December was Rs 353.6million, up 212% from Rs 113.2 million a year ago.

SICAL is a provider of integrated logistics services for bulk cargo: port terminals; port handling; trucking and warehousing; ship chartering and agency; container freight stations; customs clearance; and offshore supply logistics.

Iron ore negotiation likely to drag

Iron ore price talks in Tokyo between Japanese steel mills and the major miners have broken down, as the mills resist pressure for a price increase. The Japanese mills, which last year caved in to demands for a spectacular 71.5%, are arguing that weakening steel prices and steel production cuts will reduce tightness in the iron ore market and eventually weigh on a strong spot market.

The Japanese steel industry newsletter, the Tex Report, yesterday said both sides in Tokyo had agreed to a "cooling off" period ahead of reconvening in mid February. It said the three big miners had pressed for price increases but have yet to put "tangible" numbers on the table.

With the two sides still far apart on prices, the talks appear set to drag on into March.

But, while analysts are generally forecasting a further price rise of 10 to 20% from April 1, there are some who are tipping a price fall. Mining consultants Caiani & Co stuck by its call for an overall 10% price decline. It expects a rollover in prices for high quality ores to be offset by price falls for lower quality product. Caiani China analyst Jay Ma told that the Chinese were determined to negotiate independently of the Japanese and likely to try and tempt Brazilian miner CVRD with increased volumes in return for moderation on prices.

But, while China has pressed for a fall in contract prices, Macquarie Equities yesterday reported talk that some Chinese mills had agreed to some short-term contracts with two of the big three miners at prices 6-10% above current contract levels. Macquarie said that while such sales were unlikely to have implications for final contract prices, they do suggest there is room for a further price increase.

CVRD, BHP and Rio control over 70% of global seaborne trade in iron ore.

CRVD CEO Mr Roger Agnelli said that further price increases were needed to justify the billions of dollars miners are spending to ramp up production to meet demand. "We are meeting our investment commitments but the cost of projects has risen substantially and the steel makers will have to take this into account," Mr Agnelli said.

Russian pipe industry had a good 2005

Russian Pipe Industry Development Foundation said that 2005 was a good year for the Russia's pipe producers. "The tendency for steady growth in the industry resulting from strategic innovative modernization programs and re-equipping production lines was reinforced," it said. The production of steel pipes in Russia last year increased to 6.728 million tones from 6.083 million tones in 2004, CEO of the Fund of Pipe Industry Development Mr Alexander Deineko said. Export of steel pipes for the reporting period increased by 5.7% up to 1.464 million tones, the supply of pipe produce on the domestic market climbed 12% to come to 5.265 million tones. The big diameter pipes last year rose 28.3% to reach 1.328 million tones.

"The Russian pipe industry is now capable of meeting all requirements of Russian oil, gas and machine building companies both in terms of the range and volume of pipe production. In addition, exports expanded geographically, from 16 countries in 2000 to 60 in 2005," the Foundation said.

Output of many types of pipe rose in 2005 welded general purpose pipes increased by 7.4%, oil pipeline tubes by 6.7% and shaped pipes by 20%. But production continued to fall by 19.5% for seamless stainless steel tubes, by 23.1% for ball bearing tubes and by 3.9% for general pipes.

Ukrainian pipe shipments to Russia increased more than 10% overall in 2005, the Foundation said. "Growth was more than 30% for stainless pipes and oil well tubing and 200%-300% for water and gas mains piping and oil pipeline tubes. Ukrainian exports of large diameter pipes to Russia also increased significantly, by more than 20% in the year," the statement reads. There was no control over Ukrainian pipe imports, which Ukrainian manufacturers are selling at dumping prices in Russia, in 2005, the Foundation said.

"But today there is every sign that the terms of competition are evening out, at least for small-and medium-diameter pipes. On January 31, 2006, the government's Resolution [No. 824 of December 28, 2005] on Measures to Safeguard the Economic Interests of Russian Manufacturers of Selected Types of Steel Pipe enters into effect. This imposes five year antidumping duties on imports of five types of pipe originating in Ukraine," the statement reads. The Pipe Industry Development Foundation regards the resolution on anti-dumping measures to be the first step towards achieving equal terms of competition with foreign pipe manufacturers on the domestic Russian market, the statement said. It said the next step ought to be a government resolution on quotas for large-diameter pipe imports. A decision on this will be made upon completion on February 3 of an investigation into these imports.

Magangs exports of wheels ranked first in China

Maanshan Iron and Steel Group also known as Magang, registered record high wheel exports of around 16,000 tons worth $16 million in 2005 to be ranked as the largest wheel exporter in China, as reported by a Chinese news agency

Magang, located in central Chinas Anhui province, is one of Asias largest rail wheel manufacturers. The companys sales of wheel products came up to 20,000 tons in 2005.

Magang exports wheels to more than 20 countries and regions including the US, Vietnam, South Korea, and Brazil. The price of wheel products exported to the US increased by an average of 20% in 2005. The company aims to be the worlds largest wheel manufacturing base.

Cambrian increases stake in iron ore miner Aztec

Cambrian Mining Plc advises that it has increased its iron ore interests by raising its shareholding in Aztec Resources Ltd, owner of the high quality Koolan Island iron ore deposits off the coast of Western Australia. Cambrian has increased its shareholding in Aztec from 98.4 million shares to 213.9 million shares, representing 28.65% of Aztecs issued capital. On a fully diluted basis, Cambrians shareholding in Aztec has increased to 33.1%. The total consideration paid by Cambrian for the new Aztec shares was A$19.65million in cash.

Cambrians CEO Mr John Byrne said that the Koolan Island Iron Ore Project fitted well with the strategy that has proved successful for Cambrian in developing a presence in the international steel industry. Aztec is expected to be shipping iron ore from Koolan Island by the end of 2006. This is because there will be no need to establish the major rail and port facilities that cause the long production lead times expected by other new iron ore project developers Mr Byrne said. The quality of the Koolan Island iron ore is such that it will have little difficulty in finding a market due to its high iron content and favorable chemical composition, he said.

Aztec has outlined a resource of 53 million tonnes of iron ore averaging 64.6% iron on Koolan Island. Exploration has indicated there is potential for a much larger resource than has been currently identified.

Sago mine probe stalled by Union dispute

Plans to begin gathering evidence inside the Sago Mine fell apart Wednesday when International Coal Group Inc refused to let members of the United Mine Workers accompany state and federal investigators underground. The unions involvement has been a point of contention for nearly two weeks. Nearly 70 % of ICGs miners are being represented not by the UMW but by three co workers.

State and federal investigators had hoped to enter the mine Wednesday, more than three weeks after an explosion but no one went in. Investigators will likely search for such things as scorch marks and melted plastic, examine equipment for signs of a short circuit, establish whether the methane detectors were working and take air samples to check for highly combustible coal dust. They also will track the victims footprints and look through the miners lunch pails or other gear left behind.

Mr Ben Hatfield President and CEO of International Coal Group said that unfortunately, the United Mine Workers of America is trying to insert itself into the investigation in a self-serving attempt to boost their organizing efforts. Yielding to UMWA political influence, the Mine Health & Safety Administration (MSHA) and the West Virginia Office of Miner Health, Safety, & Training (WVOMHST) are trying to force our company to allow the union's participation in the investigation without satisfying the associated regulatory requirements. It is a violation of federal labor law and the mine operator's property rights to refuse our request to confirm that the alleged petitioners are indeed mine employees.

Galvex files for bankruptcy in US courts

Estonia based Galvex, a state of the art steel galvanizing plant in the Muugu port, has filed for bankruptcy after a major creditor refused to restructure the companys outstanding debt. According to US media reports, Galvex filed the application after failing to make a loan payment to the SPCP Group, a creditor.

On January 24, the Estonian media reported that Russias Severstal offered $160 million for the troubled galvanization plant. Severstal CFO and board member Mr Robert Dlohi denied the rumors that Severstal was planning to take over Galvex Estonia, saying the company owed $5 million for raw materials. He said Galvex was worth far more than the sum of the debt and so automatic takeover was out of the question. This is not our business. We have had long-term fruitful cooperation with Galvex and after we get back our debt we would like to continue it in some way, Mr Dlohi was quoted as saying in October. He had declined to comment on the plans of Russias Severstal, the parent company and Russias largest metal producer.

Galvex owes the investment fund SPCP Group LLC roughly 150 million dollars in operating credit and a long-term loan and has run into trouble with repayment, reports said. Galvex is also claiming that SPCP has sought to appoint a new CEO without board consultation and attempted to wrest control of the companys assets and equity.

Mr Kalev Klaar CEO of Galvex Estonia, a subsidiary of the US based corporation, told the Baltic News Service the bankruptcy application would not affect the companys operations and its Muuga facility would continue work as usual. He stressed that bankruptcy protection would give the company time to find alternative financing or for talks with the present creditor. As regards to bankruptcy procedures, Mr Klaar said there had been one hearing in New York, and as a result Galvex was allowed to acquire credit for acquiring additional raw material and continuing production. Mr Klaar said the market situation was considerably more favorable than last summer, and if the company can continue the current level of operations, it will bring positive financial results.

Galvex, a 3.7 billion kroon production facility that was launched in 2003, represents one of the largest foreign investments in the Estonian economy. The companys troubles supposedly began last spring when working capital dried up and loan payments went unpaid. An oversupply of steel and a resulting decline in steel prices forced Galvex to limit production last year, particularly at its Muugu plant.

Mr Daniel Bain, the main owner of Galvex, is reportedly holding talks with the creditor and potential new investors. SPCP has reportedly requested that he be removed and new management and advisers brought in to take over operations. Bain had originally owned 45% of Galvex, though he increased his stake to 90% in May 2005.

China begins drafting energy law

China has set up a taskforce to draft a law on energy, government sources said Wednesday. The taskforce, which include officials from 15 government departments or the national legislature, is headed by Ma Kai, minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission and director of the newly-created National Energy Office.

A panel of experts specialized in energy, law; economics and public management are working for the taskforce as advisors, sources with the commission said.

Problems accumulated during the past decades have begun to emerge in the energy sector due to increasing demand for energy to power the country's fast-growing economy, said the sources. "The complicated and changing international environment poses new challenges to the country's energy and economic security," said the taskforce in a statement.

Kentucky coal mine closed

An underground coal mine in eastern Kentucky is shut down after inspectors discover safety violations. The Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing found an area of roof with no supports in the hard core mining operation in Pike County.

Spokesman Mark York says an area 20-feet by 20-feet had the roof bolt heads cut off or sheared. Seven miners were evacuated. The mine will be closed until the state completes its investigation.

EU regulators allow Hungary to support coal mining firm

EU regulators cleared Hungary's plans to give Euro 67.6 million to coal mining company Vertesi Eromu Rt in 2005 and 2006 but said the government was wrong to fix coal tariffs paid by the state owned electricity MVM for the past two years. Vertesi plans to use the money to cover the difference between the cost of mining coal and the lower price it receives from selling it.

The European Commission said these payments were in line with a plan to restructure the country's coal industry. However it said the fixed tariffs MVM and Hungarian municipalities had to pay for heat produced from coal in 2004 were state aid, contrary to claims made by the Hungarian government. "The Commission's legal assessment of these fixed feed-in tariffs has revealed that they do imply the transfer of state resources," it said.

The Commission has already approved the restructuring plan for the Hungarian coal industry for the years 2004 to 2010 by decision of 22 June 2005. It now had to decide whether the aid Hungary intends to grant to its coal industry for the years 2004 to 2006 is in line with this restructuring plan.

China's economy grew by 9.9% to $2.3 trillion

China's economy expanded by 9.9 percent in 2005, buoyed by strong domestic demand that economists believe would continue to drive dynamic growth this year. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced that the country produced an output of 18.23 trillion yuan ($2.3 trillion) last year or a per capita gross domestic product GDP of US$1,700.

Economists' predicted growth figure for 2006 varied from 8.5% to more than 10%. But they agreed the economy is riding momentum and will continue to be vibrant this year.

The adjustments that the government initiated in 2004 continued to suppress activity in overheated sectors such as the steel industry last year. However, investments in other sectors remained robust, said NBS Director Mr Li Deshui. Growth in consumption and exports were also respectable, he said. "All three main drivers for the economy investments, consumption and net exports were in good shape," he said and that "The economy is full of vitality."

It was the third year that China's economic growth rate was around 10 %. It grew 10% in 2003 and 10.1% in 2004. The rates were much higher than those of most other economies in the world. But China's rates were still quite close to what economists call potential growth of the country, which means a growth pace that can be maintained without running into macroeconomic problems such as high inflation.

Stelco warns of revenue loss due to delay in upgrade of hot strip mill

Stelco Inc warned that delays to an upgrade of its hot strip mill in Nanticoke Ontario will cut into revenue for the fourth quarter of 2005 and the first quarter of 2006.

The company is upgrading the strip mill at its Lake Erie plant to increase its capacity to make hot roll steel and improve its quality. The move will also allow the steelmaker to close an obsolete mill in Hamilton. The upgrade is part of Stelco's plan to reduce costs. Stelco said that the new equipment has been installed and is "performing extremely well," and the company is confident it will achieve the objectives of the upgrade.

But installation and commissioning delays "will have a short-term negative impact on the facility's overall production, the volume and mix of products shipped, and the company's revenue from sales." The delays are blamed on the complexity of integrating control software as part of the commissioning process, which Stelco still intends to complete by the end of the first quarter. "The operation of the mill is improving on a weekly basis and is currently operating at 80% of the anticipated production capacity that is expected to be achieved for this stage of the project," the firm said.

Stelco's Nanticoke plant, on the shore of Lake Erie, is a key operation and was developed with major customer General Motors in mind.

Mexican steel industry seeks exclusion from Korean agreement

Mexico's steel industry is pushing for the government to exclude the metal from a commercial agreement with South Korea, Mr Octavio Rangel, director of Mexico's iron and steel industries chamber Canacero said. South Korea has a very open steel market and the agreement would not benefit Mexican steel, Mexican paper El Norte quoted Rangel as saying.

He added that Mexico already has a number of international commercial treaties it needs to consolidate before looking at new markets.

Mr Hctor Obeso, who heads Industrias Monterrey's industrial business unit, was quoted as saying that coated steel imports from Korea in 2005 increased 105% to 79,000 tonnes.

Irans steel export to Pakistan continuing

Mr Dawud Khadem export director of Mobarakeh Steel Complex denied certain news reports by a Pakistani daily on halting steel export to this country. He stressed Mobarakeh is going on export of its products to Pakistan and there is no dispute except on price since the Pakistani buyers are keen to buy the Iranian high quality products over Ukrainian origin.

He explained that Iranian steel products are of high quality and the Ukrainian products cannot compete with them. He said the price of Ukraine's steel products stand at $330 per ton that is the lowest in the world.

He evaluated the baseless news as an inefficient move meant to reduce the price of its products and stated that Pakistan has so far imported 30,000 to 40,000 tons steel in the current Iranian year.

BHP Billitons stock leaps to record high

Shares of BHP Billiton, the worlds biggest mining company, rose to a record after the company said copper and nickel production climbed to a record high to meet soaring demand for raw materials from China. Copper production increased 24% to 328,400 tons in the three months ended December 31 and nickel output surged 149% to 49,000 tons. BHP Billiton bought WMC Resources in June for A$9.2 billion, making it the worlds third largest nickel producer and one of the biggest copper producers.

Shares of BHP Billiton have gained 56% in the past year to A$24.84, outperforming a 19% gain in the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index. The companys base metals business unit was its second largest contributor to profit in the year ended June, accounting for 23% of profit.

EU Clears Slovakia's coal mining aid scheme

EU regulators approved Slovakia's investment plan for its coal industry from 2005 to 2010 which sees the government pay SKK 525 million (Euro 13.9 million) in start-up aid to coal firm Hornonitrianske Bane Prievidza AS.

Brussels regulators cleared the scheme, saying it falls within EU aid scheme laws and will help boost Europe's energy markets. Energy Commissioner Mr Andris Piebalgs underlined the importance of domestic coal production for the security.

The Commission admitted the payment gives HPB an economic advantage. However, it said the proposed aid scheme respects EU law and is therefore compatible with the proper functioning of the common market.

Gerdau considering expansion in Eastern Europe & Asia

Gerdau SA, Latin America's largest steelmaker, is considering expansion into Eastern Europe and Asia after buying its first steel mill outside the Americas in November, the company's CEO said. The purchase of a 40% stake in Sidenor SA, which gives Gerdau access to mills in Spain, will help the company enter the market for the specialty steels used by European automakers, CEO Mr Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter said.

After becoming one of the largest steel companies in North and South America, Eastern Europe, where European automakers are expanding, and Asia, were Chinese growth is the main engine of growth, are the most attractive locations for new operations, he said.

While Gerdau hopes to continue expansion in North America, the cost of buying steel companies, Gerdau's main means of expansion, is getting expensive, a situation underlined by the bidding war between Arcelor and ThyssenKrupp Mr Gerdau Johannpeter said.

MSHA pursues injunction against ICG after access denied to UMWA

The US Mine Safety and Health Administration MSHA filed for an injunction against a subsidiary of International Coal Group today after the company prevented representatives from the United Mine Workers of America UMWA from entering the Sago Mine to assist in MSHA's investigation into the January 2 accident there. MSHA recognizes UMWA representatives as a valid miners' representative.

"Some of the Sago miners requested that the United Mine Workers be their representatives for the purposes of this investigation, and they have a right to be there. Together, the state and MSHA made a commitment to the families that we would conduct a fair, open investigation, and we decided we needed to take this extraordinary step to keep that commitment," said Mr Ed Clair, associate solicitor for mine safety and health.

Section 103(f) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 provides that miners' representatives can accompany MSHA investigators, "during the physical inspection of any coal or other mine ... for the purpose of aiding such inspection and to participate in pre- or post-inspection conferences held at the mine."

"The Mine Safety and Health Administration today filed for a temporary restraining order to prohibit the Sago mine operator from denying the UMWA access to the mine for the purposes of assisting MSHA in this investigation. MSHA is doing everything it legally can to enforce the rights of the miners' representative to participate in MSHA's underground investigation into the Sago Mine accident," Mr Clair said.

British Coal say miner's life is worth 72.40

A woman whose father died as a result of working in a coal mine has been offered just over 70 to end her five-year legal battle. Mr Ernest Jackson died in 1955, aged 44, after contracting asthma, bronchitis and emphysema from breathing coal dust all of his working life. He had spent 26 years working at Parkhouse Colliery in Staffordshire.

More than 50 years later, British Coal has admitted causing Mr Jackson's death but offered his daughter Ms Gillian O'Callaghan just 72.40 compensation. Ms O'Callaghan said that she was "absolutely disgusted" with the offer. "I was completely dumbfounded with the amount, it doesn't seem to make sense," said the 55-year-old. "I am totally appalled at the way I have been treated. It's not about the money, it's the principle that my dad died doing a service and he probably would have lived much longer if he had not been down a mine most of his life.

The case has cost Mrs O'Callaghan almost 1,000, and she has been told that an appeal would set her back a further 2,500, with the maximum entitlement being only 500.

A letter from the Department of Trade and Industry, acting on behalf of British Coal, advised that the "date of guilty knowledge" in the respiratory disease judgment was set as June 4 1954, meaning companies are only liable to pay out for workers who contracted breathing difficulties after this date. DTI spokeswoman Eurwen Thomas said: "It was judged that before this date, with the knowledge and technology available to British Coal at that time, they would not have been expected to be aware of the risks."

Ukrainian industry faces gas cuts

The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers will reduce gas supplies to industrial facilities if they ignore the order to reduce gas consumption, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yury Yekhanurov said.

"If they do not understand spoken language, we will use normal administrative methods. The government still controls the tap," Mr Yekhanurov told. "If there is no reaction to the government's order we will have no choice but to force them and we will. The people should receive all the gas they need and something has to be sacrificed in order to do that. I think the people will understand us," Mr Yekhanurov said.

DaimlerChrysler to cut 6000 jobs over next three years worldwide

German US automaker DaimlerChrysler AG announced that it would cut administrative staff by 20% worldwide over three years, dropping 6,000 jobs in order to save some $1.2 billion a year and make the company leaner and more profitable. CEO Mr Dieter Zetsche said the streamlining would boost growth and profits by removing layers of management and improving cooperation between its divisions, especially Mercedes and Chrysler.

Some 60% of the jobs to be cut would be in Germany, he said. The cuts would amount to 30% at the management level and would cover areas such as accounting, auditing, personnel and strategic planning. The downsizing would cost the company around $2.4 billion in restructuring costs from 2006 to the end of 2008.

Olympic Steel CEO gets Kindness Award

Mr Michael Siegal CEO of Olympic Steel Inc recently received Project Love's Malden Mills Corporate Kindness Award. He was recognized for corporate citizenship and his ethics and principled leadership in establishing core values at Olympic Steel.

Project Love is a group that promotes kindness and mutual respect.

Alpha Natural Resources appoints Mr Ted Wood to Board

Alpha Natural Resources Inc, a leading Appalachian coal producer, today elected Mr Ted G Wood to the company's board of directors. Mr Wood will serve initially on the board's audit, compensation, and nominating and corporate governance committees.

Mr Wood joined the Virginia based United Co, a diversified energy and financial services company in 1996 and was president of its operating companies from 1998 until his retirement in 2002, at which time he was also serving as vice chairman of the United Co.

Immediately prior to Mr. Wood's appointment as a director of Alpha Natural Resources, the board accepted the resignation of director Mr Alex T Krueger. Both Mr Krueger and Mr William E. Macaulay, who resigned as a director on January 19, are affiliated with First Reserve Corporation, a private equity firm focused on the energy industry. First Reserve was one of the original equity investors in Alpha Natural Resources.

"With their extensive experience in the energy sector and more specifically the coal business, Bill Macaulay and Alex Krueger brought a tremendous amount of experience to the table in building this company from scratch into a true competitive force in the US coal industry," said Mr Hans J Mende, chairman of the board of Alpha Natural Resources. "On behalf of the board and management, we are deeply grateful for their unfailing confidence in Alpha and their dedication to its success."

Alpha Natural Resources is a leading producer of high quality Appalachian coal. Alpha and its subsidiaries currently operate mining complexes in four states, consisting of 69 mines feeding 11 coal preparations and blending plants.

Isfahan to host eighth Iranian national steel symposium

The Eighth National Steel Symposium will be held in Isfahan University of Technology from February 28 until March 1. The university organizes the event in cooperation with the Mobarakeh Steel Complex and Irans Iron & Steel Association, said head of the association Mr Najafizadeh.

To date, we have received some 180 articles of which we will choose ninety for presentation in the two-day seminar, he stated. The articles mainly contain facts and figures about raw materials for the steel industry, the process of steelmaking, smelting and casting, metallurgy, infusible and hardly fusible metals, welding, and several other relevant subjects. These gatherings are expected to encourage cooperation between private and state-owned steel producers Mr Najafizadeh said.

Baosteel tops crude steel output in 2005 in China

The table below shows crude steel output at China's major steel companies in 2005 These 26 companies account for almost 200 million tonnes out of the total Chinese cruse steel production of 349 million tonnes in 2005.
Quantity in million tonnes

(Source My Steel)