Indonesia Power says to buy 5.5MT of PTBA coal this year

PT Indonesia Power, a subsidiary of state electricity firm PT PLN (Persero) that runs Suralaya 3,400-MW coal-fired power plant in Banten said it would buy 5.5 million tonnes (MT) of coal from state coal miner PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (PTBA) this year, not 4.4 MT as earlier stated by a senior PLN official.

?Contract with PTBA is 6.1 MT per annum with plus minus 10 percent swing, making the base contract at 5.5 MT. That?s the base of the contract for this year,? IP President Director Djoko Hastowo said.

Earlier, PLN?s Director Nur Pamudji said IP would cut 2010 coal buy from PTBA as Suralaya has enough stockpile and IP also wanted to maximize coal supply from other suppliers.

Separately, PTBA CEO Soekrisno also said that IP and PTBA has principally reached deal that this year?s coal supply from PTBA to Suralaya will be 5.5 MT. ?But we need the agreement in writing to enable planning,? Soekrisno told Petromindo.Com.

He also said PTBA has actually no problem if IP wanted to cut supply to 4.4 MT this year as other buyers are lining up to buy PTBA?s coal.

IP and PTBA are currently in negotiation to decide 2010 coal price. (bernard/godang)