At least four companies eyeing BHP?s Maruwai coal project

At least four local companies reportedly to have shown interest in buying Australia mining giant BHP Billiton?s Maruwai Coal Project assets in Central and East Kalimantan, after BHP had decided to scrap the project, an Energy Ministry official said on Thursday

Witoro Soelarno, secretary of the directorate general of coal, mineral and geothermal energy at the ministry, said IDX-listed energy firm PT Indika Energy, IDX-listed mining firm PT Bumi Resources and PT Medco Mining were among of the companies that are keen to acquire BHP?s assets.

?BHP is reviewing options including selling the project or return the concessions back to the government,? Indra Diannanjaya, BHP Billiton Indonesia Spokesperson told reporters on June 09, 2009.

Maruwai Coal Project comprises of seven Coal Contracts of Work (CCOWs). Of these, BHP Billiton was developing the Haju mine and conducting the Lampunut feasibility study to investigate the development of an open cut coal mine.

The Haju mine was initially constructed to guide further development of the 100 per cent BHP Billiton owned large, metallurgical coal deposit in Central Kalimantan.

The company initially planned to start production from Haju at 200,000 tonnes starting November this year, ramping up to 1-2MTPA in the following years.

Earlier, PT Aneka Tambang has also expressed interest to buy BHP?s coal assets. Alwin Syah Lubis, the president director of gold and nickel miner PT Aneka Tambang said that his company was also interested in the BHP coal concessions. (godang)