ABK revises upward 2010 coal output, sees further increase in 2011

East Kalimantan coal miner PT Anugerah Bara Kaltim (ABK) is expected to produce 4.8-5.0 million tons of coal this year compared with 4.2 million tons in 2009, the company?s official told Petromindo.Com on Monday.

In a February 2010 statement, the company said that it planned to produce around 3.5-3.7 million tons of coal for the year.

?We?re on track to produce 4.8-5 million tons of coal for this year. Througout January-July period we already produce around 2.5 million, despite unfavorable weather condition? the official said.

The company said that starting early this year, its new coal mine Gerbang Daya Mandiri, which is located near Samarinda, East Kalimantan or about 20 kilometers from ABK?s current mine has started production with 40,000-50,000 tons of coal per month, the official said.

For next year, the company plans to boost its coal production to around 6.0 million, the official added, without further elaborating.

ABK's current main mining contractor is PAMA.

The company sells most of its coal under long-term contracts to South Korean power firm Kosep, buyers in Taiwan, Japan and India. (denny)