Banpu expanding Bontang coal terminal?s capacity

Mining firm PT Indo Tambangraya Megah (ITM), the Indonesian holding company of Thai energy firm Banpu Plc, has started the expansion project of its Bontang coal terminal capacity in East Kalimantan to 20.5 million ton per year from 12.5 million ton currently.

As part of the expansion project, the company is installing the second haul dump truck and a series of belt conveyers which are able to increase the terminal?s loading rate to 3,000 ton per hour from 1,500 ton per hour currently, ITM said in a prospectus recently released following the firm?s plan to list shares on the Jakarta Stock Exchange in December this year.

The expansion project started in January this year, the company said.

The company is also planning to build a new stockpile with the capacity of 300,000 tons. The new facility will bring the firm?s stockpiling capacity to 650,000 tons.

?The upgrading of the terminal?s coal handling capacity will be able to ship 18.5 million per year of coal using ship loader and another 2 million ton per year using new barge loader, ?the company said.

According to the company, the project is expected to be completed in early 2009 and cost an estimated US$66.6 million.

ITM has four coalmines in East Kalimantan, operated by its subsidiaries Indominco Mandiri, Kitadin, Trubaindo and Bharinto Ekatama respectively. (denny)