Govt sees no problem in divestment of BHP Billiton stake in Maruwai mine

The government has indicated that it has no problem with the sales of BHP Billiton?s 25 percent stake in its seven concession areas in Maruwai coking coal project in Central and East Kalimantan to a subsidiary of PT Adaro Energy.

Director General of Mineral, Coal and Geothermal at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Bambang Setiawan, said that the process of the sales of BHP Billion?s stake had been conducted normally just like other business transactions.

?I see there is no problem with the sale. I have not received the notification letter on the change of the ownership. But there is no problem with that,? he added.

PT Alam Tri Abadi, a subsidiary of PT Adaro Energy Tbk has recently acquired BHP Billiton?s 25 percent stake in seven concessions in Maruwai covering areas of 355,000 hectares.

BHP Billiton and Alam Tri Abadi will form a joint venture company to be called Indonesian Coal Project (ICP) to jointly develop the coal mine. (*)