ABK, JMB report higher coal output in 2006

East Kalimantan coal producer PT Anugerah Bara Kaltim (ABK) said Friday its 2006 coal output had increased by 14.2 percent to 3.2 million tons of coal from 2005.

The company?s GM Martusin Yapriadi told Petromindo.Com in an interview that the company ?s 2007 production was targeted to remain flat.

Martusin said most of ABK?s coal would be sold to Taiwan and South Korea. ?Domestically, ABK is still waiting for the supply tender held by Tanjung Jati B power plant to supply 300,000 tonnes of coal in 2007,? he said.

According to Martusin, ABK?s subsidiary PT. Jembayan Muarabara (JMB), which also mines for coal in East Kalimantan, is seeking to increase production to 3.8 million tonnes this year from 2.2 million tonnes in 2006.

He said production increase would come from the mine?s two pits that had commenced operations September 2006.

JMB, which commenced production early 2005, exports most of its production to Taiwan and South Korea. JMB is 18 percent owned by Japan?s Mitsui Matsushima Co. (denny)