Antang starts coal production from new pit

South Kalimantan coal miner PT.Antang Gunung Meratus has started coal production from its new pit early this year after it had secured permit from Ministry of Forestry.

A company official told Petromindo.Com on Monday that in January the company has produced 30,000 tonnes of coal and the company expected to produce 1.5 million tonnes this year.

The official said coal produced are sold to Jakarta-based traders PT.Asia Pacific Coalindo and PT.Bara Cemerlang Mandiri, which are Antang?s subsidiaries.

Antang was forced to cut down production in 2007 due to lack of permit from the Ministry of Forestry to open new pit within the contract area as reserves in current mining area was exhausted.

The official said mineable reserves from the new pit is estimated to be at around 10 million tonnes.

According to the official, production from the new mine, will have CV of between 5,000-6,500KCAL/kg. (denny)