Intitirta Primasakti to start coal production Q4 2004

Coal mining company PT Intitirta Primasakti has planned to commence coal production at its mining concession in Jambi Province in the fourth quarter this year, a government source said Thursday.

The source said Intitirta will produce around 150,000 tons of coal by end of this year, but will ramp up to 1.2 million tons in 2005 and to 1.7 million tons in 2007.

?Intitirta is currently finishing its mining facilities,? the source said, adding that coal production will be commenced from the company?s Block B.

The source also said coal product will be transported from Muara Bulian jetty port via Batanghari river to Berhala straits of the South China sea.

Intitirta aimed to supply coal to the Suralaya power plant in Banten Province. ?The company?s coal will be blended with PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam?s product at Tarahan coal terminal,? the source added.

Intitirta operates a 78,900 hectares open pit coal mining concession in Batanghari and Sarolangun regencies, Jambi Province. Based on the company?s general survey in 1998, the coalmine contains a coal-measured reserves of around 36 million tons with calorific value ranging from 4,842 - 6,015 kcal/kg. (robert)