Asia Thai starts C. Kalimantan coal production

Thai firm Asia Thai Mining Co. said it has started coal production from its Central Kalimantan mine unit PT. Multi Tambangjaya Utama (MTU) in April 2009.

International Marketing Manager Christien Chombhubol told Petromindo.Com on Tuesday that the mine will produce 1 million tonnes this year, ramping up to 3MT and 5MT in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

The mine is located in Buntok, Barito Selatan regency. Coal from the mine is transported to a jetty called ?MTU Port?in Barito river through 62-km haul-road and then barged to transshipment point 240 kilometers away in Banjarmasin. Christien said MTU Port could serve barge with capacity of 8,000 tonnes.

Coal from the mine has CV of 6,300kcal/kg (ADB) with sulfur content of 6%. Making the coal unsuitable to be sold to power plants. Currently, he said some of the coal is sold to Thai cement firms. Christien said the company still open for potential buyers for MTU coal. (denny)