Global equipment manufacturing giants including Caterpillar and P&H from the US, Komatsu of Japan, Belarus based Belaz, Uralmash of Russia and Taiyuan Heavy from China have joined the race for supplying contract of large mining equipment like draglines, electric shovels, off-highway haul trucks to Reliance Power’s Sasan ultra mega power project (UMPP).

According to Reliance sources, the company is expected to finalize the mega order worth over Rs. 2,000 crore for mining equipment in a fortnight to kick-start the coal mining operations in captive blocks allotted to the 4000 mw power project. As part of Sasan UMPP, Reliance power is developing the largest coal mine in the country at Moher and Moher Amlohri extension. The company will spend over Rs. 3,000 crore for developing and operating the open cast coal mine. The mine plan for both the captive coal blocks has already been approved by the ministry of coal.

They said adding that several of the equipment proposed to be used for the captive coal blocks would be used for the first time in India. The size of the order is also the largest in recent history of Indian mining industry. All the suppliers interested in the order have also agreed for organizing export financing from their respective countries. Apart from Sasan, the Reliance power is also looking at placing orders for mining equipment for its Tilalya UMPP and the companies getting Sasan order would also be the front runners for bagging the Tilalya UMPP in Jharkhand.