Adaro able to maintain coal transportation, shipment despite troubles
Wednesday, June 6 2001 - 06:00 AM WIB
Company administration manager Priyadi told Petromindo.Com that Adaro was still able to transport its coal at normal volume via the river despite the local authorities? policy to close the river for shipping for every second day due the dredging works.
The local authorities imposed the one-day-closed, one-day-open policy last May 12.
Priyadi said the company could maintain the volume of its coal transportation by increasing the number of its barge fleet to carry its coal during the open day.
? Instead of using 37 barges daily under normal circumstances, we are now using 41 barges to carry our coal,? he said.
The barges transport the company?s coal from its barge-loading site in Kelanis to its floating crane facilities, which is some 15 nautical miles away from Barito?s channel at Banjarmasin.
Taboneo is located some 240 kilometers away from Kelanis.
Priyadi said normally, Adaro loads 6 to 7 barges of coal daily onto the vessels in Taboneo. Now, after the closure of the Barito channel, the company loads up to 13 barges of coal every two days.
? So, more or less, our transportation capacity stays unaffected,? said Priyadi.
Aside from the Taboneo floating crane facilities, Adaro sometimes uses the port owned by PT Indonesian Bulk Terminal (IBT) on Laut Island off South Kalimantan as the terminal for its coal shipment to buyers.
But, IBT has suspended its operation for several days following a blockage by the villagers.
Priyadi said the suspension of port operation by IBT had thus far brought no impacts on Adaro?s coal shipment because the coal company could still send its coal via Taboneo.
According to Priyadi, Taboneo floating crane facility has a loading capacity of 60,000 tons of coal per day.
Adaro currently produces some 55,000 to 60,000 tons of coal per day. (Godang/Alex)