Bahtera Adhiguna eyes S. Kalimantan coal barging business

National shipping company PT Bahtera Adhiguna has approached South Kalimantan provincial authorities to allow it transporting coal in the area, the work so far dominated by JSX-listed Rig Tenders, local daily Banjarmasin Post reported Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Bahtera?s director M. Simaremare met with South Kalimantan governor Sjachriel Darham to convey their intention.

Simaremare said after his meeting with the governor that they had yet to discuss with South Kalimantan authorities about the amount of contribution they would have to give to the province. He said however that they would offer to them up to 40 U.S. cents per ton of coal transported by Bahtera?s barges.

Simaremare said that his company would operate at least 10 barges to transport coal of PT. Adaro Indonesia to vessels anchoring in the estuary of South Kalimantan?s Barito River, and that the number would be increased. Together, the 10 barges have capacity to carry 50 percent of the total volumes of coal from Adaro so far transported by Rig Tenders, he added.

Sjahriel said recently the province should allow in more companies to transport coal through the Barito River. He complained that Rig Tenders, which had dominated coal transportation in South Kalimantan, had used foreign flagged barges. (*)