JCD must prove its worth on contracts to retain key role

摘要

Japan Coal Development (JCD) must prove its worth in contract price talks over the next two years to maintain its role as a lead negotiator for power utilities and general industry thermal coal buyers, utility sources interviewed by Platts said. The fuel procurement negotiating body's survival as an entity depends on its ability to deliver favorable prices for the Chinese LT thermal and Rio Tinto's Blair Athol contracts, both due to expire in 2005 and for which JCD acts as their lead negotiator, they said.