Indonesia?s Jan-Sept coal production reaches 206.2 MT: Govt

The country?s coal production reached 206.2 million tons (MT) during the period of January to September this year, or about 75 percent of this year?s production target of 262.48 MT, according to director general of mineral, coal and geothermal at the ministry of energy and mineral resources

Bambang Setiawan said on Friday that national coal output would likely meet the target despite unusually heavy rain this year.

Earlier, Bambang Gatot Ariyono, the director for development of mineral and coal at the ministry of energy and mineral resources 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.

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, Bambang Gatot said in Oct. 6.

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 production at 305 million tons, citing unfavorable weather condition. (*)