Hasnur to start Mantimin coal production mid-2009

Kalimantan coal producer Hasnur Group expects production from its Mantimin Coal Project to start mid-2009.

A company official told Petromindo.Com on Thursday that initial production from the mine is expected to reach up to 300,000 tonnes in the first year, ramping up to 2MTPA the following years.

The official said that coal from the mine would be hauled through 70-km road to Sungai Kerang jetty in Pasir Regency, East Kalimantan, which could take up to 270 feet barge; and then to Adang Bay transhipper.

The official, however, said that thus far it had yet obtained a vital license from the Ministry of Forestry, called ?Pinjam Pakai? that would enable the company to conduct exploitation works. ?Once the license is issued, we can immediately start production,? the official said.

Mantimin, which is run by Hasnur unit PT.Mantimin Coal Mining, is located in Hulu Sungai Tengah, Hulu Sungai Utara and Tabalong regencies, covering areas of about 100,000 hectares.

The company would start production from Upau block which covers an area of 4,500 hectares and having coal reseource of 105 million tones.

Another block called Baturangga, which has 8.3 million tones of reserves, is currently at construction stage.

Mantimin has low CV coal.(denny)