Mitsui says offers proposal for Mongolia coal bid

TOKYO Jan 31 (Reuters) - Mitsui & Co (8031.T: Quote), Japan's second-biggest trading house, has submitted a proposal for a tender to develop Mongolia's huge Tavan Tolgoi mine and to buy coal from the project, a company spokesman said.

The spokesman declined to provide further details.

Industry sources familiar with the matter said Mitsui had partnered with China's state-run Shenhua Group and Peabody Energy (BTU.N: Quote) of the United States.

A group led by Itochu Corp (8001.T: Quote), Japan's fourth-biggest trading house, will also soon submit a proposal, another industry source with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Itochu has tied up with three Japanese trading houses -- Sumitomo Corp (8053.T: Quote), Marubeni Corp (8002.T: Quote) and Sojitz Corp (2768.T: Quote) -- as well as South Korea's state-owned Korean Resources and Russian Railway, industry sources said.

Monday is the deadline for prequalification proposals for bids to develop a portion of the Tavan Tolgoi mine. (Reporting by Yuko Inoue; Editing by Edmund Klamann)

Source:Reuters News Wire Service