Govt says Q1 coal production 50% below target on heavy rains

Government said on Wednesday that Indonesia produced only some 30 million tonnes of coal in the first quarter of 2009, or 50 percent below target set by the government.

Bambang gatot Ariyono, Director of Coal and Mineral Enterprises at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources blamed heavy rain that hit Sumatra and Kalimantan at that period.

Bambang said Indonesia is expected to produce 220 million tonnes of coal this year. (bernard)