Bengkulu?s coal production targeted to reach 2.5 tons by 2011

Coal mining companies in Bengkulu have agreed to boost their production and deliver the products through Baai Island port in a bid to meet the coal delivery target of 2.5 million tons by 2011.

Head of Bengkulu?s Energy and Mineral Resources Office Surya Gani said in Bengkulu recently that representatives of six local coal mining companies and the provincial administrationt have agreed that coal delivery through the Baai Island port should reach at least one million tons in 2008.

The amount should be increased to 2.5 million tons four years later in 2011 to comply with the agreement reached by the local government and state-owned port opeator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) II.

The six coal mining firms included PT Bukit Sunur, PT Danau Mas Hitam, and PT Bukit Bara Utama, Surya said.

Surya explained that local coal production and delivery through the Baai Island port for both export and domestic market still below one million tons, currently.

A research conducted by local government disclosed that coal reserves in the region reached 161.53 million. Out of the total amount of reserves, 129.58 million tons were located in North Bengkulu regency and the remaining 32.94 million tons were found in Seluma Regency.

Surya also unveiled local government?s program to build a 160-km-long- railway track connecting Tanjung Enim, Muara Enim regency, South Sumatra to Linau Regency, Kaur regency, Bengkulu Province to boost the coal delivery capacity. (*)