JSW Steel’s Mozambique Coal Deal Faces Legal Setback
COAL & MINING

JSW Steel’s Mozambique Coal Deal Faces Legal Setback

India’s largest steelmaker, JSW Steel Ltd., has been sidetracked by a legal dispute that has halted its plans to acquire a coal concession in Mozambique. The deal to purchase Minas de Revuboè (MdR) from the estate of Australian tycoon Ken Talbot, who passed away 14 years ago, has been thrown into uncertainty after the Mozambican government revoked MdR's coal mining lease, valued at around $50 billion.

JSW Steel, led by Sajjan Jindal, had agreed in May to acquire a 92% stake in MdR for $74 million as part of a broader investment plan. However, two months after the lease revocation, the Mozambican Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy published a notice offering a 30-day period for objections to awarding the coal concession to Stonecoal SA, a company with close ties to the Jindal family.

Four of Stonecoal's five directors are employed by Naveen Jindal's JSW Steel & Power Ltd. (JSPL), though Stonecoal’s representatives have denied any direct connection to the company, stating the efforts were made in a personal capacity.

The dispute comes at a crucial moment for Mozambique, which is grappling with civil unrest following disputed elections. It also complicates the efforts of JSW Steel, which had hoped to secure the coal mine as part of its strategy to meet the growing demand for key materials, like coking coal, for steel production.

JSW Steel and the Talbot estate are challenging the revocation in arbitration, seeking to restore the original lease and finalize the sale. The case is being overseen by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, with a tribunal hearing expected in early 2025. The outcome could have significant implications for the Jindals’ mining interests and the broader Mozambican mining sector.

India’s largest steelmaker, JSW Steel Ltd., has been sidetracked by a legal dispute that has halted its plans to acquire a coal concession in Mozambique. The deal to purchase Minas de Revuboè (MdR) from the estate of Australian tycoon Ken Talbot, who passed away 14 years ago, has been thrown into uncertainty after the Mozambican government revoked MdR's coal mining lease, valued at around $50 billion. JSW Steel, led by Sajjan Jindal, had agreed in May to acquire a 92% stake in MdR for $74 million as part of a broader investment plan. However, two months after the lease revocation, the Mozambican Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy published a notice offering a 30-day period for objections to awarding the coal concession to Stonecoal SA, a company with close ties to the Jindal family. Four of Stonecoal's five directors are employed by Naveen Jindal's JSW Steel & Power Ltd. (JSPL), though Stonecoal’s representatives have denied any direct connection to the company, stating the efforts were made in a personal capacity. The dispute comes at a crucial moment for Mozambique, which is grappling with civil unrest following disputed elections. It also complicates the efforts of JSW Steel, which had hoped to secure the coal mine as part of its strategy to meet the growing demand for key materials, like coking coal, for steel production. JSW Steel and the Talbot estate are challenging the revocation in arbitration, seeking to restore the original lease and finalize the sale. The case is being overseen by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, with a tribunal hearing expected in early 2025. The outcome could have significant implications for the Jindals’ mining interests and the broader Mozambican mining sector.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

TBO Tek Q2 Profit Climbs 12%, Revenue Surges 26% YoY

TBO Tek Limited one of the world’s largest travel distribution platforms, reported a solid performance for Q2 FY26 with a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue to Rs 5.68 billion, reflecting broad-based growth and improving profitability.The company recorded a Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of Rs 8,901 crore, up 12 per cent YoY, driven by strong performance across Europe, MEA, and APAC regions. Adjusted EBITDA before acquisition-related costs stood at Rs 1.04 billion, up 16 per cent YoY, translating into an 18.32 per cent margin compared to 16.56 per cent in Q1 FY26. Profit after tax r..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Northern Graphite, Rain Carbon Secure R&D Grant for Greener Battery Materials

Northern Graphite Corporation and Rain Carbon Canada Inc, a subsidiary of Rain Carbon Inc, have jointly received up to C$860,000 (€530,000) in funding under the Canada–Germany Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme to develop sustainable battery anode materials.The two-year, C$2.2 million project aims to transform natural graphite processing by-products into high-performance, battery-grade anode material (BAM). Supported by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Programme (NRC IRAP) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs a..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Antony Waste Q2 Revenue Jumps 16%; Subsidiary Wins Rs 3,200 Cr WtE Projects

Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited (AWHCL), a leading player in India’s municipal solid waste management sector, announced a 16 per cent year-on-year increase in total operating revenue to Rs 2.33 billion for Q2 FY26. The growth was driven by higher waste volumes, escalated contracts, and strong operational execution.EBITDA rose 18 per cent to Rs 570 million, with margins steady at 21.6 per cent, while profit after tax stood at Rs 173 million, up 13 per cent YoY. Revenue from Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Transportation (MSW C&T) reached Rs 1.605 billion, and MSW Processing re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement