Govt needs to set up coal center

The government must immediately set up a coal center in a bid to promote the use of coal among households and small industries, according to head of coal and mineral technology development Lobo Balia.

Lobo told Petromindo.com that coal would be an important alternative source of energy for households and small enterprises when the government fully eliminates fuel subsidy in 2004.

He suggested the coal center to be set up in Palimanan area, Cirebon, West Java.

He said that the national coal briquette plants had the capacity to produce 300,000 tons per year, but only around 20,000 tons were absorbed by the public so far.(Amoros)