Bukit Asam's coal exports up five percent in 1st quarter

State owned coalmining company PT Batubara Bukit Asam reported a 5.5 percent increase in its coal exports in the first quarter of this year to 782,000 tons from about 741,000 tons in the same period, last year, Kompas reported Saturday.

PT Bukit Asam's corporate secretary Milawarman attributed the increase in the coal exports of the Tanjung Enim, South Sumatra-based coalmining company to the surge in the demand from China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan.

According to Milawarman, the coal prices in the international market also continued to increase during the Jan-March period reaching between US$50 and US$60 per ton, depending on the quality of the coal.

The coal prices during the first quarter of this year were not as stable as those in the same period of 2004 because many buyers were still reluctant to fix their coal purchase contracts for the entire 2005. "But we believe the coal price will continue to increase to reach US$65 per ton," he said. (*)