Adaro Indonesia to produce 18m tons of coal

PT Adaro Indonesia, Indonesia?s largest coal mining firm, is optimistic that it will be able to produce 18 million tons of coal as targeted this year.

?We may even be able increase production to 19 million tons this year in the absence of production disturbances,? the company's administration manager Priyadi told Petromindo.com Tuesday.

Priyadi said Adaro?s production for the third quarter of this year stood at approximately 4.8 million tons.

?We expect to be able to produce 1.8 million tons of coal per month starting this October so production in the fourth quarter of this year can reach 5.2 million tons,? Priyadi said, denying earlier reports that Adaro had planned to produce only 4.8 million tons for the fourth quarter of this year.

Priyadi said that there was no significant production disturbance in Adaro except for the thick haze that clouded Kalimantan due to forest fire.

?The haze could stop production for several hours a day, but it will not have signifant impact," he said.

PT Adaro Indonesia which operates a giant coal mine in South Kalimantan is 50 percent owned by New Hope Corporation Limited, through its wholly owned subsidiary Indonesia Coal Pty Limited, while Mission Energy and a local company PT Asminco hold 10 percent and 40 percent, respectively. (alex/godang)