Berau Coal to double output by 2014

East Kalimantan's coal miner PT Berau Coal has planned to boost its output to 30 million tons (MT)per annum in 2014 from 14.5 MT at present, the company?s president director Didik Cahyanto said.

The target was recently unveiled in a presentation by the firm on its strategic planning for the coming years.

Berau also said in the presentation that it will further develop its main coal pit called Lati, which is expected to produce 15 MT in 2014 from this year?s target of 10 MT. Other Berau?s pits are Binungan, Sambarata, Gurimbang and Kelai-Punan.

The firm expects Binungan pit to reach a sustainable production level at 7 MT starting 2012 as against this year?s target at 4.72 MT and Sambarata will produce 4.75-5.0 MT in 2013-2014 compared with 2.78 MT at present.

Meanwhile, new pit Gurimbang and Kelai-Punan will start production in 2012 and 2013, each with an initial production of 500,000 tons, and are expected to produce around 1 MT and 3.25 MT, respectively in 2014

Berau has a total measured coal resources of 1.17 billion with CV 5,000-5,100 kcal/kg (AR).

Next year, Berau expects to produce around 20 MT, from this year?s target of 17.5 MT.

The company expects to double its coal export allocation to China and India to 30 percent and 13 percent this year from 15 percent and 7 percent last year, respectively.

Meanwhile, South Korea's market is expecting to slightly decrease to 19 percent from 23 percent last year. For domestic market Berau will allocate 30 percent for this year, slightly increase from 29 percent last year.

Its parent company, PT Berau Energy will float shares at the Indonesian Stock Exchange in July-August this year to get US$300 million of fresh funds.

Rosan Roeslani, President Director of PT Recapital Advisors which indirectly controls Berau Energy said that the company will offer 20-30 percent shares to public.

Recapital bought 90 percent stake in Berau Coal last year for $1.48 billion. (denny)

	LATI (Million tons)	BINUNGAN (Million tons)	SAMBARATA (Million tons)	GURIMBANG (Million tons)	KELAI-PUNAN (Million tons)	TOTAL (Million tons)
2010	10.00	4.72	2.78	-	-	17.50
2011	11.00	5.55	3.45	-	-	20.00
2012	12.00	7.00	4.50	0.50	-	24.00
2013	14.00	7.00	5.00	1.00	0.50	27.50
2014	15.00	7.00	4.75	1.00	3.25	30.00
Source: Berau Coal