GTB resumes coal mining operation

East Kalimantan-based coal miner PT Garda Tujuh Benua (GTB) has resumed coal mining operation on the Bunyu island after a suspension from last December due to flood.

?GTB resumed its mining operation in the middle of March and we expect that coal production will reach 40,000 tons by end of this month (April),? Edi Wiyantoro, a GTB marketing staff, told Petromindo.Com on Thursday.

Edi also said GTB was preparing a trial shipment of 18,000-tons of coal for burning test to the Philippines-based PNOC-Exploration Corp. ?The trial shipment is scheduled to be held by end of April,? Edi added.

In February, GTB and PNOC-EC signed an agreement for a possible joint venture on coal-related businesses. The agreement may also allow PNOC-EC to market as much as 1.7 million tons per year of GTB's coal in the Philippines.

GTB operates a 2,000-hectare mining concession located in East Kalimantan, believed to contain coal reserves of around 200 million tons. The company?s mining facilities are able to support production of around 4 million tons of coal per year.

GTB commenced its coal production in October last year. (Robert)