ICR to develop an upgrading coal technology in Jambi

By Cepi Setiadi

Indonesia coal miner company, a subsidiary of Aneka Tambang, Tbk, PT Indonesia Coal Resources revealed its plan to use an upgrading coal technology in its coal mine in Jambi with the expected investment of US$5 million.

President Director of Indonesia Coal Resources Bachtiar Maggalatung said that the technology was invented by Indonesian expert and has been registered at Perhapi.

"We have conducted a trial of upgrading technology with the small scale project using 10 tons of coal and it works," he told Petromindo.Com adding that technology could decrease the total moisture (TM) from the previous of 45 percent to 28 percent with calorific value increase to 5,800 Kcal/kg from 5,200 Kcal/kg.

"After this trial, we put the coal on the water for about one week, and TM value only increased to 35 percent from 28 percent," he said.

Bachtiar added that for the initial production, the company plans to produce 350,000 tons of upgraded coal per year.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora