Coal vessels still fail to unload coal at Tanjung Jati B

Three vessels carrying coal with combined volume of 160,000 tonnes still fail to berth unloading port of PLN?s 2x660-MW Tanjung Jati B power plant in Jepara, Central Java due to rough weather that hit Java sea in the past few weeks, causing coal supply to run out, a company official said on Thursday.

Tanjung Jati B General Manager Basuki Siswanto told Petromindo.Com that two vessels carrying coal from Berau Coal and one from Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) had been trying for days to approach the port without success.

?This afternoon, one vessel again failed to approach the port due to high waves that reach 3 meters,? he said.

He did not disclose the power plant?s coal stock at stockpile, but one unit of the power plant had been shut down.Dec 29, 2007, Kompas daily reported on Thursday that on the remaining coal at the stockpile was 50,000 tonnes, while each unit of the power plants consumed 9,000 tonnes of coal per day.

Basuki said to avoid coal shortage during rough season that is expected to last until March, Tanjung Jati B will increase stockpile from 150,000 tonnes normally to 500,000 tonnes. (godang)