Indonesia to increase coal exports to Vietnam, Cambodia

By Bambang Atmaja

Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik said that Indonesia has started exporting coal to Cambodia and Vietnam and is expecting to increase the volume as the two countries' growing economy requires more electricity.

Minister Jero made the statement after the meeting of President Yudhoyono and his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang at the State Palace.

"In the future the export will certainly increase as they are planning to build more power plants," Jero told Petromindo.com at the palace.

"Their economies are improving so they must need more electricity," he said, but he did not elaborate further on the amount of export so far, and what is the target growth in the future.

President Yudhoyono said that Indonesia and Vietnam would boost cooperation on coal sector.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora