E. Kalimantan to produce 70 million tons of coal this year

The provincial administration of East Kalimantan has projected an increase in the province?s coal production to 70 million tons this year from about 60 million tons in 2003, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Tuesday.

The head of the province?s mining office, Masrihadi, estimated that the province?s coal mining companies would increase their production to at least 70 million tons in 2004 to meet an increase in their export orders.

He said that the expected increase in the coal production would be also partly contributed by the commencement of the production of PT Makmur Sumber Jaya and PT Mandiri Inti Perkasa, which are expected to produce a total of one million ton of coal this year.

Last year, the province?s coal production reached a total of 60 million tons. Of the total, PT Kaltim Prima Coal produced 16.3 million tons, PT Kideco Jaya Agung (14 million tons), PT Berau Coal (8.1 million tons), PT Indominco Mandiri (5.8 million tons), PT Gunung Bayan Coal (3.3 million tons), PT Bukit Baiduri Enterprise (2.3 million tons), PT Multi Sarana Avinso (2.1 million tons), PT Multi Harapan Utama (1.6 million tons), PT Kitadin (1.6 million tons), PT Tanito Harum (1.5 million tons), PT Lana Harita (1.2 million tons), PT Kitadin Tandung Mayang (466,000 tons), KUD Primkopol (306,000 tons), PT Kartika Selabumi (253,000 tons), PT Baradinamika ( 248,000 tons) and PT Fajar Dumi Sakti (70,000 tons). (*)