Antang coal sales reaches 327,000 tons

South Kalimantan coal miner PT.Antang Gunung Meratus said on Monday that its coal production and sales from January through July 2008 reached 250,000 tons and 327,000 tons, respectively.

?We may not be able to reach our (production) target of 1.5 million tons this year because we still have problems related to the fact our concession overlapped the lands owned by other companies," he said.

At the present, the firm sells all its coal on the domestic market, the official added.

Antang started coal production at its new pit early this year after securing permit from Ministry of Forestry.

Antang was forced to cut down production in 2007 because the ministry withheld permit for the company to open new pit in the concession as reserves in the existing mining areas have been depleted.

The cumulative first half 2007 production reached only 130,000 tons

The company currently produces two kinds of coal with CV of 5,000-5,500 Kcal/kg and 6,500Kcal/kg. The company sells its coal production to PT.Asia Pacific Coalindo and PT.Bara Cemerlang Mandiri, which are Antang?s subsidiaries. (denny)