Berau Coal sets to increase 2010 sales

East Kalimantan coal mining firm PT Berau Coal is targeting to increase 2010 coal sales to 16 million from 14 million tonnes this year.

GM Marketing and Sales Eko B Natalia told McCloskey Asia Pacific Coal Outlook Conference 2009 in Bali on Wednesday that the increase would come from a new pit within the company?s concession.

Eko said domestic sales would increase to 5-5.5 million tonnes next year from 4.3 million tonnes this year.

Starting next year Berau will supply 3 million tonnes per annum to three Chinese buyers under long-term contract. ?This is the fisrt long-term contract Berau clinched with Chinese buyers,? he said, adding that each of the three undisclosed buyers would get 1 million tonnes per annum.

Eko said Berau Coal has contracted 100 percent of its 2010 coal output and priced 60 percent. Average price is expected to reach US$60 per tonne next year compared to US$57-58 per tonnes this year, he said. (denny)