Southern seeks up to 25 mln tons of PRB coal

HOUSTON, April 4 (Reuters) - Southern Company Services Inc (SO.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is offering to buy as much as 25 million tons of U.S. Powder River Basin coal over five years for power plants in Alabama and Georgia, a company website posting said Friday.

The deal for 1 million to 5 million tons per year for up to five years from 2009 through 2013 requires coal with sulfur content no greater than 0.6 pounds per million British thermal units (Btu), the website said.

The actual amount of coal to be bought and for exactly how many years will be determined by the buyer after evaluation of bids, the posting said.

Minimum Btu content was not specified, but the price will depend on the Btu content of coal offered, the notice said. Most Powder River Basin coals contain 8,000 to 9,000 Btus per pound.

The notice was published April 2. Sealed bids will be received through April 23, the posting said. (Reporting by Bruce Nichols; Editing by Christian Wiessner)