Coal production lower than target

Petromindo|Khalsa

The country?s coal production in the first eight-month of this year ending August stood at only 294.5 million tons, or only around 62 percent of the full-year target of 477 million tons, news portal kontan.co.id reported on Monday.

This raises concern that the full-year coal output target may not be achieved. Dadan Kusdiana, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Spokesman confirmed that coal production in the January-August period should have already reached around 75 percent of the full-year target. But he said that there are a few months left before the year ends, hoping that the target could be achieved.

The ministry revised upward the coal production target this year to 477 million tons from the 413 million tons set under the government?s medium term development plan, taking into account the hundreds of IUP miners which were expected to start production this year.

But this portal earlier reported, quoting some industry players, that the full-year coal production target may not be realized amid the unusual wet season which has hampered production activities. (*)