Berau Coal ramps up Sambarata mine production

East Kalimantan-based coal mining company PT Berau Coal said Thursday its was going to double production in its newly operated Sambarata mine starting August.

According to Berau Coal president director Jeffrey Mulyono, the Sambarata mine, which commenced production in February this year, currently produces 40,000 tons of coal per month. Upon completion of all production facilities in the mine in late July, said Jeffrey, Sambarata would be able to produce 100,000 tons of coal per month.

Earlier report said production from Sambarata was targeted to rise to 2 million tons per annum in 2002.

The 15,600-hectare pit is estimated to contain 90 million metric tons of coal reserves.

Jeffrey said Berau had also planned to start production at the Birang mine, which was located about 5 kilometers from Sambarata, between late 2002 and 2003.

?Once Sambarata and Birang come in full production in 2003, we expect production (from the two pits) could reach 3 million tons per annum,? said Jeffrey.

Beside Sambarata, Berau Coal currently operates the Binungan and Lati mines, which produced 4.8 million tons of coal in 2000. Including production from Sambarata, Berau expects to produce 6.5 million tons this year.

Berau Coal is 60 percent owned by United Tractors, a subsidiary of PT Astra International Tbk, 30 percent by PT Amadian Tritunggal and 10 percent by Japanese trading powerhouse Nissho Iwai. (Alex)