Arch Coal eyes Indonesian coal mine acquisition

St. Louis-based firm Arch Coal Inc. is eyeing coal mining acquisition overseas,including Indonesia, the company?s senior officer told Petromindo.Com on Thursday.

VP-analysis & strategy, Lawrence Metzroth said that the company is interested to acquire mines which are capable to produce at least 5 million tons per annum of high calorie coal.

?So far, we don?t have any contact or conversation with coal miners in Indonesia yet,? he said, adding that the company preferred to acquire coal mine in Kalimantan rather than Sumatra.

Arch Coal is the second largest U.S. coal producer. In total, Arch contribute about 16% of America?s coal supply from our 11 mining complexes in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Virginia. With 126 million tons of coal sales in 2009, we provided U.S. utilities with the fuel for roughly 8% of the nation?s electricity.

Arch has a reserve base totaling 4.7 billion tons. (denny)