Gunung Bayan Pratama ramps up production

East Kalimantan based coal mining firm PT Gunung Bayan Pratama aimed increase production to 3 million from 2.5 million tons last year, according to a company official.

?In 2003, we are going to increase production to 4 million tons, which is our maximum production capacity,? said the company?s Mining Department Head Unggul Gunarto on Wednesday.

Unggul said the company was constrained to increase production because of the mine?s sole transportation means is through Kedung Pahu river- sub-river of Mahakam-which dries up in dry season.

?Gunung Bayan is currently constructing a 16-kilometer shortcut which will enable u to transport more coal to the riverside,? said Unggul.

Gunung Bayan Pratama commenced commercial production in 1999 with production of 7000 calories coal.

Unggul said the company currently has 160 million tons of mineable reserve.

The ministry of energy and mineral resources? data say the company is owned by PT Kaltim Bara Sentosa (60 percent), Low Tuck Kwong (30 percent), and Engki Wibowo (10 percent).(alex)