Banpu trying to revive closed coal mining ops

Thai energy firm Banpu Plc is trying to resume coal mining from its recently closed Kitadin mine in East Kalimantan by acquiring land from villagers.

?Banpu is in the process of acquiring 300 hectares of land where reserves are contained from villagers,? Banpu Indonesia Director Pongsak Thongampai told Petromindo.Com on a sideline of Coaltrans conference in Bali Tuesday.

Pongsak said that Banpu is planning to resume mining at a rate of 2-3 MTPA from the mine within few months after land acquisition is completed.

?All the infrastructures are still there. We can resume mining immediately,? he said.

Banpu has ceased mining operations from Kitadin early this year due to reserves depletion.

According to Pongsak, some 17 million tones of mineable reserves are contained in the villagers? land , enabling the company to extend minelife for at least another 5 years. (alex)