Adaro set to produce 18 million tonnes of coal this year

Indonesia's largest coal producer Adaro Indonesia said Wednesday it planned to produce some 18 million tonnes of coal this year compared to last year's 16,2 million tonnes, the company's administration manager Priyadi told Petromindo through phone interview.

Adaro Indonesia operates 26,000 hectares of mining concession in the Tanjung area South Kalimantan with coal reserves estimated at 1.5 billion tonnes.

Earlier, Adaro's president Graeme Robertson said it planned to increase its production capacity to 30 million tonnes per annum in 2003 and would spend some US$ 200 million for the expansion.

Adaro sells its output to several countries such as United States, Japan, Taiwan, Spain and locally sell the coal to state electricity company PLN and several cement producers.(alex)