Banpu says coal terminal expansion completed in 2009

Mining firm PT Indo Tambangraya Megah (ITM), the Indonesian holding company of Thai energy firm Banpu PCL, said construction of Bontang Coal Terminal expansion, East Kalimantan, has now been 60 percent completed with completion seen in September 2009, CEO Somyot Ruchirawat said Wednesday.

The terminal?s throughput capacity would be ramped-up to 18.5 MTPA upon completion from 12.5 MTPA currently, Somyot told reporters.

Stock pile capacity would also be ramped up to 650,000 tonnes from 350,000tonnes currently.

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.

Somyot said the expanded terminal would be able to berth coal vessel with the size of up to 95,000 DWT.

Somyot said the terminal will be 100 percent used to handle coal production from its subsidiaries.

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