KPC, Arutmin obtain export permit

Coal miners PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) and PT Arutmin Indonesia, which are both subsidiaries of IDX-listed coal giant PT Bumi Resources Tbk, have obtained the necessary export permit from the government.

Bumi Corporate Secretary Dileep Srivastava was quoted by Bisnis Indonesia as saying Wednesday that the two coal miners are now registered exporters with the Ministry of Trade. ?In the first half of this year, we exported about 60 percent of the total production,? he said, without providing figures.

Under a new coal export procedure effective as of October 1 of this year, exporters must obtain export permit from the Ministry of Trade. To be able to obtain the export permit, the coal miners or exporters must first obtain export recommendation letter from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, which set a number of requirements including clean and clear status of their concessions as well as proof of proper tax and royalty payments.

Earlier report said that so far only 117 firms have obtained the necessary export permit, raising concerns that coal export from the country, the world?s largest exporter of thermal coal, would be curtailed this year. (*)