Govt prepares special policy to boost domestic coal consumption

The government is drafting a special policy to increase domestic coal consumption, Suara Pembaruan daily reported Friday.

?The government and other stakeholders are preparing a special policy on coal business in order to boost domestic consumption of coal,? the paper quoted Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro as saying Thursday.

Purnomo did not disclose the contents of the policy and when it would be ready.

Meanwhile, Geology and Mineral Resources Director General Wimpy S. Tjetjep said the government had set a target to raise domestic consumption to 95.6 million annually in 2010, or a 300-percent increase from the current level. Of the 95.6 million tons, 60 percent was expected to go to the power sector, Wimpy said.

Indonesia?s coal output reached 101.2 million tons last year, and is estimated at 214 million tons in 2020, Wimpy said.

Its coal exports amounted to 64.1 million tons in 2002, Wimpy said. (*)