IBT records H2 throughput increase

Australian investment firm Washington H Soul Pattinson said (SOL) on Thursday throughput in South Kalimantan coal handling terminal PT Indonesia Bulk Terminal (IBT) increased to 3.8 million tons during August 2001- January 2002 period compared with 2.3 million tons for the same period last year.

SOL has indirect stake at IBT through ownership of New Hope Corporation Limited - a SOL subsidiary - in IBT.

IBT ia a common user coal terminal used by several coal companies in Kalimantan to ship their coal to domestic and foreign buyers. The companies include PT Adaro Indonesia and PT Arutmin Indonesia.

International customers that take coal from the port are Carboex, Union Fenosa in Spain; Enel Brindisy in Italy; Taipower in Taiwan; Itochu Electric in Japan; Duke Energy in Chile; Quezon Power Station and Mauban Power Station in the Philippines; Impakta in Slovenia; Hongkong Electric in Hong Kong; Kepco in South Korea.

Domestic customers that take coal from the port are Paiton Energy in East Java and the Suralaya power plant in West Java. (alex)