Australian aluminium maker Comalco Ltd said that it had selected five bidders to construct and run a gas-fired power station in Gladstone in Queensland state to power a proposed new alumina refinery. Comalco said the drawing of a short list of bidders did not necessarily mean that it will build the refinery in Gladstone.

Discussions were also being held with the StateElectricity Supply Co (SESCO) in Sarawak, Malaysia, a Comalco spokesman said. "We are actively looking at the Malaysian option as well,"the spokesman said. Three of the bidding companies are for the Australianproject are U.S. Based Edison Mission Energy Ltd, NRG Asia Pacific Ltd, owned by Northern States Power Co and Sithe Energies Australia Pty Ltd, a subisidiary of Sithe Energies Group, which is headquartered in New York.

The other bidders, CS Energy Ltd and Stanwell Corp Ltd, are owned by the Queensland government. Comalco managing director Terry Palmer said a key component in selecting Queenslandfor the refinery would be availability of gas from neighbouring Papua New Guinea via a pipeline. Chevron Corp has proposed running a 2,600-kmpipeline to deliver gas from the Hides field in Papua New Guinea to Gladstone. Alumina is derived from bauxite and is used to make aluminium. Comalco is about 69.5 per cent owned by Rio Tinto Ltd.

Oils remain steady on little support

In New Delhi, steady conditions prevailed on the oils and oilseeds market today as prices moved in a limited range on small bouts of buying and selling before winding up at previous levels. There was hardly any worthwhile trading activity as arrival and offtake was at a low ebb and volume of business small.

The following were today's quotations per quintal: oilseeds: mustard seed 2050-2400, cottonseed 1400-1500, groundnut 1550-2050 and sesame 2400-2600, vanaspati ghee (15 kgs tin) 750-800, edible oils: groundnut mill delivery 4350-4450, groundnut solvent refined (per tin) 725-800, mustard (per ltr) 74-82, mustard expeller 5400,mustard pakki ghani (per tin) 860, mustard kachi ghani 895-1000, sesame 4650, soyabean mill delivery 3450-3550, cottonseed mill delivery 3680, sunflower 4350-4400, palmolein (rbd) 4150-4200 rice bran (physical) 3350 and coconut 900-920. Non-edible oils: linseed 4100-4200, mahuwa 2700-3200, castor 4000-4100, neem 2750-2800, rice bran 1850 and palm fatty 2850-2900.

Oilcakes: groundnut dehusk 550-625, sesame 900-950, standard 490-550 and cottonseed 600-625.

Tin up, copper declines

In New Delhi, in thin trading, tin ingot prices improved on the non-ferrous metal market following small buying support from solder makers while copper prices dropped for want of support. Elsewhere, prices generally moved in a narrow range on selective enquiries. The volume of business was satisfactory.

Tin ingot prices quoted rupee one higher at Rs.361 per kilo on some demand. Copper wire bar, copper rod and copper wire prices dropped by Rs 2 to Rs 113, Rs 119 and Rs 120 per kilo respectively on reduced demand fromwire units amidst lower outside advices.

The following were today's quotations per kilo: tin ingot 361, solder (40 per cent) 155, nickel 242-245, zinc slab 67, zinc dros 58, bell metal scrap 145, copper wire bar 113, copper rod 119, copper wire 120, copper scrap 99-100, chadripital 81, brass sheet cutting 83-84 and brass boring 67- 68. Lead ingot 33, lead imported 39-41, aluminium (22 gau ge) 100-101, aluminium (30 gauge) 108-111, aluminium (36 gauge) 11 6- 119, aluminium rod 88, aluminium cg ingot 84, aluminium wire scrap 79 and aluminium utensils scrap 69.

Cotton yarns mixed

In New Delhi, steady conditions prevailed on the cotton yarn market today as prices moved in a narrow range on alternate small bouts of buying and selling before winding up at previous levels. Marketmen said arrival and offtake was at a low ebb and volume of business small.

Following were today's quotations per 4.54 kg: waste yarn: jyoti 2 count -120, diamond 2 count -123 and deepak 2 count-127. Hank yarn:(prices in Rs per 4.54 kilos) jind 6 count 262 annapurna 6 count-257, annapurna 10 count-265, qulabpura 20 count- 385, mahavir 2/6 278 and bhatinda 2/20 400. Cone yarn (per tin) 5 kilos) : hissar 4 count 246, jind 6 count- 280, ksl 6 count-263, annapurna 10 count-285, qulabpura 20 count - 420, ksl 2/4 -288, ksrl 2/76 283 and ksl 2/10. Hosiery yarn: in rs per five kilos: mahavir 20 count-452, arihant 20 count- 465, mahavir 30 count 490, arihant 30 495.

Grain prices move in thin range

In New Delhi, there was no change in the pattern of trading on the grains and pulses market today as prices moved in a narrow groove on alternate small bouts of trading before winding up at previous levels. Marketmen said arrival and offtake was small which also reduced the volume of business. Following were today's quotations per quintal: grains: wheat deshi 750-1050, wheat (MP) 1050-1110, wheat dara 670-700, chakki atta (90 kg) 650, roller mill atta(90 kg) 655, maida 720-750, sooji 705, rice basmati (lal mahal) 5800,rice basmati (lal quila) 5850, rice basmati common 3900-4400, rice i r-8 800, permal 820-1050, permal sela 820-1020, kabli gram 2100-2850, peas white 1100-1200, peas green 1325-1500, bajra 400-420, jowar 410-500, maize 500-580, barley 500-575, gowar white 1100-1200. Pulses: urad 1600-1800, dal 2000-2500, urad dhoya 2100-2500, moong 1700-1975, dal 2000-2650, moong dhoya 2200-2700, masoor 1850-2000, dal 2200-2400, malka masoor 2200-2700, moth 1650-1800, dal moth 2250-2550, arhar 2100-2750, dal 2800-3600, rajma (chitra) 2250-2650, rajma (lal) 2300-2700, gram 1475-1500, gramdal 1700-2000, besan (70 kgs bag) 1650 and shakti bhog (35 kgs bag) 725.

Plastic prices drift

In New Delhi, prices of low denstiy (LD) and other raw plastic drifted on the local plastic market today due to reduced industrial demand coupled with weak overseas market trends. Traders said arrivals and offtake remained at a low ebb and so was the volume of business. LD No 40 and LD No 400 quoted lower at Rs 46 and Rs 48 per kgrespectively due to poor demand from manufacturing units. LD No 1035 also lacked buying support and shed 50 paisa at Rs 46 per kg. The following were today's quotations per kg: LD No 40 - 46, LD No 400-48, LD No 1035-46, HD moulding (deshi) 41, HD (moulding) imported 40, HD colour 48, PP no-35 40, PP no 100-38, PP imported 37, PP colour 48, ABS (Indian) 56, ABS imported 55-56, colour 64-66, crystal (Indian) 40, crystal (imported) 45, crystal colour 48, nylon no 6-115, nylon no 66-152.

Steel prices unchanged

In New Delhi, prices moved in a limited range on the steel market today following small bouts of trading activity before winding up at previous levels. Marketmen said arrival and offtake was at a low ebb and volume of business remained small. The following were today's quotations per tonne: CTD Saria (Kamdhenu) a -grade :8-mm 15400, 10-mm 15000, 12-mm 14400, 16 to 20 mm 14300 and 25 mm 14500. Tor steel 8 -mm 15300, 10 -mm 15000, 12-mm 14400, 16 to 20-mm 15200 and 25-mm 14600.

Jaggery insteady ranges

In Muzzafarnagar, the primary gur (jaggery) market closed on a steady note here today due to small exchange of buying and selling. At Delhi wholesale market also ruled to a flat trend due to restricted demand. Following were today's quotations in rs per quintal truck load: balti (peli) 900-940 chorsa 800-850 dhayya NT Khurpa 800-850 laddo best 860-910 laddo kala 710-720 laddo medium 800-815 rapsaya 870-880 pedi NT Raskat 570-590 chakku 860-900

Sugar prices move up

In New Delhi, sugar mill gate prices moved up on the local sugar market today on scattered demand and closed with modest to moderate gains. However, Delhi wholesale market remained unchanged for want of support. In the mill gate section, Modi Nagar (S.M) and Sakoti Hardened from Rs 1330 and Rs 1333 to close at Rs 1360 and Rs 1350 per quintal respectively. Smali and Bulandshaher also looked up to close at Rs 1485 and Rs 1330 from the previous level of Rs 1455 and Rs 1280 per quintal respectively.