IBT coal shipments drop in 2008

Pulau Laut Coal Terminal operator PT Indonesia Bulk Terminal (IBT) shipped 8 million tonnes of coal on 125 vessels in 2008, or 66% of the plan and a 33% decrease compared to the 12 million tonnes loaded on 185 vessels in 2007.

Of the total FY08 amount, 1,802,460 tonnes were third party shipments, while for FY07, 1,246,190 tonnes were third party shipments, parent company PT.Adaro Energy Tbk reported on Wednesday.

IBT expects to handle 6 million tonnes of coal through the Pulau Laut terminal this year, down from the 8.1 million tonnes exported in 2008, and hopes to increase the third party tonnage in 2009, it said.

IBT has a rated throughput of 12 million tonnes per annum and is able to load vessels of up to 80,000 DWT. (alex)