The deal recently finalised with a signing in Beijing, and will allow PPK to use its Coaltram assembly site in the Hunter Valley to sell and distribute CCTEG’s giant range of underground mining equipment and mining consumables throughout Australia and New Zealand.

PPK director of international mining Dale McNamarra said CCTEG was the commercialisation arm of the China Coal Research Institute.

“In Australia this would be the coal division of our CSIRO,” he said.

“CCTEG is a vast organisation, with multiple manufacturing operations and tens of thousands of employees. Their range is staggering – it runs from massive capital items like fully delivered longwall mining systems, longwall relocation equipment and conveyor systems all the way through to a full range of consumables including drill steels and personal safety gear.”

The director said he was delighted to represent CCTEG and offer customers consumables of Australian quality standards at “very cost effective pricing”.

“We have already introduced CCTEG made PCD diamond drill bits in an Australian pit with exceptional results. This a very large opportunity for PPK to assist in bringing down mining costs to further benefit our customers in these difficult times”.