Heavy rain may further disrupt coal production

Heavier-than-usual rainfalls in the country this year may further disrupt mining activities especially tin and coal operations in the second semester of this year, a senior government official has said.

Bambang Gatot Ariyono, the director for development of mineral and coal at the ministry of energy and mineral resources, said in Jakarta on Wednesday that coal production during the first semester of this year was only about 47 percent of the full year target of 262.48 million tons.

The relatively low production was caused by heavier-than-usual rainfalls in the country, especially in coal producing areas such as in Kalimantan, he said, estimating that the bad weather would further disrupt coal mining operations in the second semester.

According to the Indonesian coal mining association (APBI) said in August that Indonesia?s coal production reached 203 million tons during the period of January to July this year, or about 63 percent of the yearly production target of 320 million tons.

APBI estimates that this year?s total production was only expected to reach 305 million tons due to unfavorable weather condition. (denny)