Four companies working on coal upgrading technologies

by Hiski Darmayana

Four companies have reported to work on the technologies to make coal upgrading an economic and commercial project, namely Adaro, Bumi Resources, GeoCoal and Pama Persada cooperating with Bandung Institute of Technology.

"But no company has reached the intended commercial stage this March," said Association of Indonesian Mining Professionals (Perhapi) Chairman Irwandy Arif.

Adaro plans to upgrade up to 100,000 tons of coal per year through the deploying of U.S. technology, while Bumi Resources' upgrading project is initiated by subsidiary PT Pendopo Energi Batubara headquartered in Muara Enim, South Sumatra.

Upgrading technology is key in meeting the 2009 mining law which stipulates the banning of low rank coal export as of 2014.

Editing by Er Audy Zandri