Arutmin sole coal supplier to Asam-Asam power plant

State electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) said on Tuesday that South Kalimantan coal miner PT Arutmin Indonesia agreed to provide all the coal needs of its 2 x 65 MW Asam-Asam coal-fired power plant, following the closure of PT Jurong Barutama Greston mine.

"Beginning this year, Arutmin will provide all the coal needed for the Asam-asam power plant,? PLN?s director for prime energy Nur Pamudji told Petromindo.Com on Tuesday.

Arutmin has agreed to provide all the coal needs after the Jurong mine was shut down in December, 2009, he said.

Asam-asam power plant, located in Tanah Laut regency, South Kalimantan, needs about 735,000 tons of coal a year. Up until the end of 2009, about one-third of the coal needs was supplied by IDX-listed coal group PT Indo Tambangraya Megah?s Jurong coal mine, with PT Arumin providing the remainders, Pamudji said.

Pamudji said that PLN had recently launched a tender for the procurement of 300,000 tons of coal a year so that the company would not rely solely on Arutmin for the coal supply. ?But before we get the additional supply, all the coal needs will be provided by Arutmin,? he added. (godang)