Berau to commence new pit production next year

Coal mining firm PT Berau Coal plans to commence production from its new pit Block 7 in Binungan mine next year with initial production capacity of 250,000 tons per annum.

?The output is expected to reach 500,000 tons per annum starting 2003,? Tria Suprajeni, the company?s general manager for finance and administration told Petromindo.com in Berau Sunday.

He said the coal calorific value from Block 7 pit would be around 5,700, which is among the highest Berau produces.

Currently Berau operates Block 5 and Block 6 in Binungan mine, with production capacity of 3 million tons per annum.

?With Block 7 commence production next year, we expected to increase production from Binungan mine to 3.2 million tons next year,? he said.

Berau Coal, which is located in Berau regency, East Kalimantan, currently operates Lati, Binungan and Sambarata mines with 2001 combined production estimated at 7 million tons. (alex)