Banpu reports higher coal sales in Q3

Thailand?s largest coal miner Banpu PCL reported Monday its Indonesian coal sales increased to 4.73 million tons in the third quarter of 2006 from 4.08 million tons in the previous quarter following a significant improvement at Trubaindo mine.

?Altogether the sales momentum is fairly on track to achieve 21 million tonnes sales as targeted for this year,? Banpu said in its quarterly report without specifying the contribution of each of its Indonesian coal mines.

Banpu operates six Indonesian coal mines, four of which are already in production including Jorong Barutama Greston in South Kalimantan, Indominco Mandiri, Kitadin, and Trubaindo, which are all located in East Kalimantan. Two other coal mine concessions are Bharinto in East Kalimantan and Barasentosa Lestari in South Sumatra.

Beside Indonesia, Banpu also operates several coal mines in Thailand and China. The company?s total coal sales reached 5.31 million tones in third quarter of 2006.

Banpu said its average coal selling price was US$36.60 per ton, decreasing 3 percent from the same period last year. The figure, however, was higher than the previous quarter?s price of $33.54 per ton.

Banpu said compared to the same period last year its earnings from coal business is significantly lower due to inflated production cost, particularly diesel cost, impact from the later suspended export tax payment, and one-time expense related to closure at Kitadin mine?s underground unit. (robert)

Banpu Indonesian Coal Production, Sales and Reserves for the quarter ended Sep 30, 2006
Quantity (million tons)
Source	Reserves	Production	Reserves	Sales
	As of Jun 30,2006	Jul-Sep'06	As of Sep 30,2006	Jul-Sep'06
1. Jorong	28.794	0.865	27.929	0.591
2. Indominco	68.095	2.554	65.541	2.405
3. Kitadin	18.585	0.753	17.832	0.658
4. Trubaindo	64.307	1.489	62.818	1.084
5. Barasentosa	32.800	-	32.800	-
6. Bharinto	28.500	-	28.500	-
TOTAL	241.081	5.661	235.420	4.738